From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpunitivepu‧ni‧tive /ˈpjuːnətɪv/ ●○○ adjective [usually before noun] 1 PUNISHintended to punish someonepunitive action/measures etc The agency sent a letter, but took no punitive action. The jury awarded punitive damages (=money paid to someone who is the victim of a crime). The government is expected to take punitive steps against offenders.2 → punitive taxes/price increases etc
Examples from the Corpus
punitive• But far too many listen only rarely to their children and have little to say to them that is not punitive.• Government forces immediately took punitive action against the rebels.• The president, however, can issue waivers to prevent punitive actions.• New students were aware of 1987's punitive assignments.• However, he said that the punitive award to the estate of Nicole Brown Simpson might be more vulnerable.• His kiss was an assault, punitive, compelling her lips to part, robbing her of breath.• The company was ordered to pay punitive damages in a sex discrimination case.• As Baker repeatedly told jurors, the intent of punitive damages is to punish, not destroy.• He was awarded $ 335,000 in compensatory damages and $ 300,617 in punitive damages.• Such punitive gestures fulfilled the important function of maintaining mechanical solidarity at the requisite pitch.• The sanctions were a punitive measure used to try to force South Africa to reject apartheid.• punitive taxespunitive action/measures etc• But the real issue may be how long Baghdad can forestall what increasingly appears to be inevitable punitive action.• Once again, the agency sent a strongly worded warning letter, but took no punitive action.• The president, however, can issue waivers to prevent punitive actions.• The government, however, had only just begun their punitive measures against excessive liberalism.• But punitive measures-oh yes.• Its proposed abolition and replacement with more punitive measures would further criminalise travellers for their way of life.From Longman Business Dictionarypunitivepu‧ni‧tive /ˈpjuːnətɪv/ adjective1intended to punish someoneThe court can impose punitive measures.2TAXpunitive taxes, price increases etc are very high and it is difficult for people to pay themPunitive taxes on energy are likely to hurt many small businesses.Origin punitive (1600-1700) French punitif, from Medieval Latin punitivus, from Latin punire; → PUNISH 