punishing

Pluralpunishings

1. 1
   adjective

   Very hard and tiring, pushing your body or mind to the limit.

   Like carrying a heavy bag uphill for hours until your legs give out.

   The team kept up a punishing pace through the final mile.

   She survived a punishing schedule of back-to-back rehearsals.

   Similargrueling, exhausting, arduous, strenuous, demanding

   Oppositeeasy, undemanding, leisurely

   Note
2. 2
   verb

   Present participle of punish. Use this form for something happening right now.

   The coach is punishing the whole squad for one player's mistake.

   Parents who keep punishing small slips often raise anxious kids.

   Note
3. 3
   adjectivefiguratively

   So harsh that it slowly wears you down or causes real harm.

   Like the hot sun beating down on you until you feel weak.

   The critics were punishing in their reviews of the new play.

   A punishing heat wave settled over the city for two weeks.

   Similarcrippling, crushing, harsh, brutal, severe

   Oppositemild, gentle, favorable

   Note
4. 4
   nouncountable

   A beating or rough treatment given to someone, often as a penalty.

   Like getting a hard time-out for breaking a rule, only rougher.

   The boxer took a fierce punishing in the final round.

   Their team gave the rivals a real punishing on the field.

   Similarbeating, battering, pounding, thrashing, drubbing

   Note

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