penalize

/ˈpinəlaɪz/
verb
  1. To punish someone for breaking a rule or law.
    • Companies that pollute the environment should be heavily penalized.
    • The referee decided to penalize the player for a dangerous tackle.
    • If you arrive late, the teacher may penalize you by deducting points.
  2. To put someone at a disadvantage or treat them unfairly.
    • The system penalizes workers who take time off for family emergencies.
    • Students from low-income families are often penalized by the cost of college applications.
    • The new tax law seems to penalize small business owners.
Antonyms