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.
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.