penalizeverb [ T ]
UK usually penalise uk/ˈpiː.nəl.aɪz/us/ˈpiː.nəl.aɪz/penalize verb [ T ] (CAUSE DISADVANTAGE)
to cause someone a disadvantage:
The present tax system penalizes poor people.
The system should ensure that borrowers are not penalized by sudden rises in mortgage rates.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Advantage and disadvantage
- a free ride idiom
- a stick to beat sb with idiom
- advantage
- an ace up your sleeve idiom
- attraction
- be/stay/keep one jump ahead idiom
- cash
- cash in on sth
- edge
- fish
- in the right place at the right time idiom
- it's tough at the top idiom
- lock in sth
- lock sb out of sth
- lose out
- piggyback
- profit
- profit from sth
- you've got nothing to lose idiom
- your best/strongest/trump card idiom
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penalize verb [ T ] (PUNISH)
to punish someone for breaking a rule:
He was penalized early in the game for uunsportsmanlike conduct.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Punishing & punishments
- bar
- be brought/called to account idiom
- boot
- bring
- bum rap
- carrot
- chastise
- clobber
- crucify
- heads will roll! idiom
- kick
- kick (some) ass idiom
- non-custodial
- parking ticket
- penal
- string
- strip
- throw
- throw the book at sb idiom
- wheel clamp
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