adverb
- in a way that is intended as punishment or that inflicts punishment
Examples
- The company was punitively fined for violating environmental regulations.
- The teacher looked at the disruptive student punitively.
- Interest rates were raised punitively high to combat inflation.
- The new policy was designed to act punitively against repeat offenders.
- He was transferred punitively to a less desirable department.
- The sanctions were imposed punitively rather than constructively.