Added 9 October 2026 punishing /ˈpʌnɪʃɪŋ/ adjective Categories: Describing WordsRare Words adjective ! Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about punishing at Wordnik → Where our words come from → Resulting in punishment. the king imposed a punishing tax Characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort. worked their arduous way up the mining valley Related Words: gruellingarduousbackbreakinglaborioustoilsomelabouriouseffortfulhardgruelingheavysuppressingsuppression Back to today's word