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Punishing - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Punishing means extremely harsh, severe, or demanding, often causing great difficulty or suffering. It can describe intense physical effort, brutal conditions, or strict discipline. Example: The marathon was punishing due to the scorching heat.

punishing

/ˈpʌnɪʃɪŋ/ /ˈpʌnɪʃɪŋ/

Definition:

Inflicting severe physical or mental suffering as retribution or deterrent.

Synonyms:

grueling, harsh, brutal, arduous

Part of Speech:

adjective, verb (present participle)

Antonyms:

rewarding, gentle

Common Collocations:

punishing schedule, punishing workout, punishing heat

Derivatives:

punishable, punisher, punishment

Usage Tips:

Use "punishing" to describe extreme physical or mental strain, often in contexts like sports or work.

Common Phrases:

punishing pace, punishing regime, punishing blow

Etymology:

Derived from Old French "punir," meaning to inflict penalty or suffering for wrongdoing.

Examples:

  • 1. The marathon was a punishing test of endurance.
  • 2. His punishing training routine left him exhausted but stronger.
  • 3. The team faced a punishing schedule with back-to-back matches.
  • 4. She endured the punishing heat during the desert trek.

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