Crossword Genius

Feeble hosts live it up in a punishing manner (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

punitively

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'in a punishing manner' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'feeble hosts live it up' is the wordplay.
'feeble' becomes 'puny' (I've seen this in another clue).
'hosts' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters are welcomed or hosted).
'up' indicates anagramming the letters (letters get chucked up).
'live'+'it'='liveit'
'liveit' with letters rearranged gives 'itivel'.
'puny' going around 'itivel' is 'PUNITIVELY'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for punitively that I've seen is " in disciplinary fashion".)

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