This is the 3571st most frequent Portuguese word.
punir
"Punir" means "to punish."
In this sentence, 'punir' is used as an action verb meaning 'to punish' in the context of enforcing consequences for certain actions.
O governo decidiu punir os responsáveis pelo desmatamento.
The government decided to punish those responsible for deforestation.
Here, 'punir' reflects the concept of applying penalties or consequences as a means of societal regulation.
Eu acredito que é importante punir comportamentos prejudiciais para a sociedade.
I believe it is important to punish behaviors harmful to society.
In this case, 'punir' conveys the act of disciplining or enforcing rules, contrasted with constructive teaching methods.