amerce
/əˈmɜrs/
verb
- To punish someone by making them pay a fine or penalty, especially one that is not fixed by law but set by a court or authority.
- In medieval times, a lord could amerce a tenant for failing to maintain the fence.
- The court chose to amerce the driver rather than send him to jail.
- The judge decided to amerce the company for violating environmental regulations.
Antonyms