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Examples

  • -- If success in my cabinet-making has moved me to give a feast, and I thereat drink more healths than are consistent with my own, the Church surely knows that fact the very next day; and as Utah recognizes no impunitive "getting drunk in the bosom of one's family," I am again sent for, on this occasion to pay a fine, probably exceeding the expenses of my feast.

    The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 13, No. 78, April, 1864 Various

  • Risks of large takedowns and possible impunitive taxes or capital controls will remain, however.

    US Market Commentary from Seeking Alpha 2010

Comments

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  • does anyone know the meaning of this word? impunity is without or exempt from punishment. impunity: the avoidance of punishment?

    September 15, 2008

  • Adopting an attitude of resignation towards frustration; characterized by blaming neither oneself nor others unreasonably. Contrasted with INTROPUNITIVE a. and EXTRAPUNITIVE a.

    OED

    The first use quoted is from 1938, apparently its coinage:

    1938 S. ROSENZWEIG in H. A. Murray Explorations in Personality vi. 587 He may experience emotions of embarrassment and shame, making little of blame and emphasizing instead the conciliation of others and himself to the disagreeable situation. In this case he will be more interested in condoning than in condemning and will pass off the frustration as lightly as possible by making references, even at the price of self-deception, to unavoidable circumstances. This type of reaction may be termed ‘impunitive’.

    September 15, 2008

  • Being outside of the rule of law, without risk of retribution.

    February 2, 2011