He didn't know whether to laugh at her spirit or threaten her with dire punishment for it.

For their parents had promised them dire punishments if this photograph for grandfather's birthday was less than perfect.

If the infraction was bad enough to warrant dire punishment, they could even insist on watching it together.

Surely he and Tristan had met with dire punishment.

Either warrants the direst punishment of which I can conceive.

The evil deity, unfortunately, administers a dire punishment to those who resist it.

The food and drug agency has taken on the personality of a parent who promises dire punishments, but never follows through.

The king angrily asked the Jewish minister to explain, threatening him with dire punishment.

They threatened Roos with dire punishments, so that he promised to go to the King.

Semirame nodded her agreement with such a dire punishment apparent.