PUNITIVELY Meaning and
Definition
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Punitively is an adverb that refers to an action or policy that is undertaken with the aim of imposing punishment, penalties, or consequences on someone. It derives from the adjective "punitive," which is associated with punishment.
When used to modify a verb, "punitively" indicates that the action being taken is intended to inflict retribution or to serve as a disciplinary measure. It suggests that the purpose of the action is to penalize the person involved, often because of a perceived wrongdoing or violation of rules or laws. For example, a government might apply punitively high taxes on luxury items in order to discourage their consumption or may enforce punitively strict regulations on businesses for failing to comply with legal requirements.
In a broader context, "punitively" can also pertain to the consequences or outcomes resulting from punitive actions. These consequences typically involve negative repercussions, such as fines, imprisonment, loss of privileges, or other forms of punishment. For instance, someone who breaches a contract may be sued and punitively required to pay substantial damages as a result.
In summary, "punitively" denotes an approach characterized by punishment and is employed to describe actions undertaken with the intent of penalizing individuals for their actions or behaviors.
Common Misspellings for PUNITIVELY
Etymology of PUNITIVELY
The word punitively is formed from the root word punitive, which derives from the Latin word punitus, the past participle of punire meaning to punish, ultimately derived from the Latin noun poena meaning punishment or penalty. The suffix -ly is added to the root word to form an adverb, thus creating punitively, meaning in a punitive manner or with the intention of punishment.
Similar spelling words for PUNITIVELY
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