inflict a penalty or sanction on (someone) as retribution for an offence, especially a transgression of a legal or moral code:I have done wrong and I’m being punished for it
inflict a penalty or sanction on someone for (such an offence):fraudulent acts would be punished by up to two years in prison
informal capitalize on (an opponent’s mistake), especially in sport:Australia punished Ireland’s handling blunders and scored three tries
treat (someone) in an unfairly harsh way:a rise in prescription charges would punish the poor
