punitivism

P3U1N1I1T1I1V4I1S1M3

noun

Support for the expansion and strengthening of criminal penalties, especially as opposed to other methods of addressing crime.

Scrabble 17
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Meanings

nounpunitivism (uncountable)
  1. uncountableSupport for the expansion and strengthening of criminal penalties, especially as opposed to other methods of addressing crime.

Origin

punitive + -ism

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

punitivism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/punitivism

MLA

“punitivism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/punitivism. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “punitivism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/punitivism.

Source: punitivism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.