punishing
UK: ˈpʌnɪʃɪŋ | US: ˈpʌnɪʃɪŋ
adj. causing severe physical or mental strain; extremely harsh or demanding
vt. (present participle of punish) inflicting a penalty or suffering as retribution
The word "punishing" derives from the verb punish, which entered Middle English via Old French punir (to punish), itself from Latin punire (to inflict a penalty). The Latin root poena (penalty) traces back to Greek poinē (payment, penalty), reflecting the ancient concept of justice as retributive "payment" for wrongdoing. The suffix -ing marks its adjectival or participial form, emphasizing ongoing or resultant harshness. The term evolved from literal judicial penalties to metaphorically describe anything severely taxing.
The marathon was punishing under the scorching sun.
He faced punishing criticism for his controversial remarks.
The team endured a punishing schedule of back-to-back matches.
Punishing workouts require disciplined recovery.
The novel’s protagonist survives punishing hardships to achieve redemption.