1. During a punishing recession, Spain avoided a sovereign bailout from Europe, but received a smaller €100-million bank rescue in 2012.

2. Russia has since warned it could hit Ukraine with punishing trade restrictions.

3. The South Texas heat is punishing this time of year.

4. While he personally has not been accused of wrongdoing, he is blamed for not adequately investigating and punishing graft.

5. In the first part, the government seized control of eastern Mosul in 100 days of punishing combat.

6. She added that Google changes its search algorithm over 500 times a year, and were not targeted at punishing companies.