adj
Uncommon
punishing
PUH-nih-shihng
Punishing (adj) means Extremely harsh, demanding, or exhausting. Example: “They kept up a punishing training schedule before the Olympics.”
adj
1
Extremely harsh, demanding, or exhausting.
"They kept up a punishing training schedule before the Olympics."
How to use punishing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishVery demanding or gruelling.
Common pairings
punishing schedule
punishing pace
punishing workout
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like punishing.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- punishings
- Comparative
- more punishing
- Superlative
- most punishing
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They kept up a _____ training schedule before the Olympics.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for punishing
fishing
dishing
phishing
swishing
vanishing
perishing
finishing
polishing
ravishing
nourishing
publishing
furnishing
See all rhymes for punishing →
Frequently asked questions
What does “punishing” mean?
The word “punishing” means extremely harsh, demanding, or exhausting. In plain terms, very demanding or gruelling.
How do you pronounce “punishing”?
“Punishing” is pronounced PUH-nih-shihng (/ˈpʌnɪʃɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “punishing” in a sentence?
Here is “punishing” used in a sentence: “They kept up a punishing training schedule before the Olympics.”
What part of speech is “punishing”?
“Punishing” is an adjective.
Is “punishing” a common word?
“Punishing” is an uncommon word in modern English.