penalize

penalize — verb

1. to make someone face a penalty after they break a rule, law, or game rule.

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to make someone face a penalty after they break a rule, law, or game rule.

例句

The referee penalized Ken for pushing near the goal.

penalize + someone + for + -ing

Drivers who park here are penalized with a heavy fine.

passive: be penalized with a fine

同義詞
  • punish

    is the broader everyday word and is less tied to official rules

  • fine

    specifically means punishing someone by making them pay money

  • sanction

    is more formal and common in legal, business, or official contexts

反義詞
  • reward

    means giving something good for correct or successful behavior

  • excuse

    means deciding not to punish someone for a fault

文法句型

penalize + someone + for + noun/-ing

be penalized with + fine/points

penalize + team/player/driver

用法筆記

Frequently followed by for + noun or -ing to name the offense. Common in sports, schools, contracts, and official rules; distinguish from sense 2, which can describe disadvantage without a formal punishment.

常見錯誤

❌The referee penalized Ken because pushing near the goal.
✅The referee penalized Ken for pushing near the goal.
💡use 'for' before the reason.
❌Drivers are penalized by a heavy fine.
✅Drivers are penalized with a heavy fine.
💡use 'with' for the penalty that is given.

2. to leave someone in a worse position, often because a rule, price, or system wor

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to leave someone in a worse position, often because a rule, price, or system works against them.

例句

High train fares penalize students who travel home every weekend.

penalize + group affected by cost

The new phone app penalizes older users with tiny text buttons.

同義詞
  • disadvantage

    is the clearest neutral verb for putting someone in a weaker position

  • hurt

    is less formal and can describe any kind of negative effect

  • discriminate against

    is more specific and suggests unfair treatment of a particular group

反義詞
  • benefit

    means to help someone or give them an advantage

  • favor

    suggests giving one person or group better treatment

文法句型

penalize + someone/group

be penalized by + rule/cost/system

用法筆記

Subject is often a rule, cost, design choice, or situation rather than a person. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense does not require anyone to have broken a rule.

常見錯誤

❌High fees penalize to poor families.
✅High fees penalize poor families.
💡penalize takes a direct object, not 'to'.
❌Small schools are penalized of low numbers.
✅Small schools are penalized by low numbers.
💡use 'by' for the cause in this passive pattern.