Punish, perhaps can be defined as the act of inflicting a penalty or sanction on someone for an offense. Two crossword solutions for this term are PADDLE (6 letters) and SPANK (5 letters). PADDLE is a tool used to hit someone as a form of punishment, usually on the buttocks. SPANK is a form of corporal punishment in which a person is struck on the buttocks with an open hand. Both of these methods are used to punish someone, either as a form of discipline or as a legal sentence.