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Punishment vs Recompense - What's the difference?

punishment | recompense |

As a noun punishment

is the act or process of punishing, imposing and/or applying a sanction.

As a verb recompense is

.

punishment

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The act or process of punishing, imposing and/or applying a sanction.
  • A penalty to punish wrongdoing, especially for crime.
  • A suffering by pain or loss imposed as retribution
  • (figuratively) Any treatment or experience so harsh it feels like being punished; rough handling
    • a vehicle that can take a lot of punishment

    Synonyms

    * castigation * punition * beating

    Antonyms

    * reward

    Hyponyms

    * retribution

    Derived terms

    * corporal punishment * mirror punishment * (l)

    Related terms

    * punishable * punisher * punishing * punitive * impunity

    recompense

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An equivalent returned for anything given, done, or suffered; compensation; reward; amends; requital.
  • That which compensates for an injury.
    • He offered money as recompense''' for the damage, but what the injured party wanted as '''recompense was an apology.

    Synonyms

    * * (l) * restitution

    Verb

    (recompens)
  • To reward or repay (someone) for something done, given etc.
  • * 1596 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , IV.ii:
    • She in regard thereof him recompenst / With golden words, and goodly countenance, / And such fond fauours sparingly dispenst
  • * Shakespeare
    • He cannot recompense me better.
  • To give compensation for an injury.
    • The judge ordered the defendant to recompense the plaintiff by paying $100.
  • To give (something) in return; to pay back; to pay, as something earned or deserved.
  • * Bible, Rom. xii. 17
    • Recompense to no man evil for evil.