as in revenge
the act or an instance of responding to an injury with an injury
the neighborhood is being torn apart by an endless cycle of gang violence and retribution
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of retribution
The continual debacle surrounding the Epstein files and the speed of political retribution by the Justice Department seem to be two of the leading reasons.
—
Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2026
This appears to be part of a broader campaign of retribution, following investigations involving former FBI Director James Comey and others.
—Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 15 June 2026
The aggrieved Helios approaches Zeus for retribution, and the ensuing storm that Zeus sends drives Odysseus back to Charybdis, who claims his last ship and his crew.
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 June 2026
Most, even those with more experience or who no longer work at Unwell, were reluctant to speak on the record for fear of retribution—but taken together, their accounts paint a picture of a workplace marked by fear, anxiety, and paranoia.
—Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for retribution
Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2026
This appears to be part of a broader campaign of retribution, following investigations involving former FBI Director James Comey and others.
—Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 15 June 2026
The aggrieved Helios approaches Zeus for retribution, and the ensuing storm that Zeus sends drives Odysseus back to Charybdis, who claims his last ship and his crew.
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 June 2026
Most, even those with more experience or who no longer work at Unwell, were reluctant to speak on the record for fear of retribution—but taken together, their accounts paint a picture of a workplace marked by fear, anxiety, and paranoia.
—Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for retribution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retribution
Noun
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For the admiral, this has always been a revenge mission against the Sea Snake, the man who has ruled the Narrow and Summer Seas for far too long, killing her friends along the way.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
22 June 2026
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The admiral's swagger, battlefield bravado and desire for revenge will be sung by the bards of Westeros, and serve as a breakthrough showcase for Thorn, a playwright and YouTuber, who came out as a transgender woman in a January 2021 video on her Philosophy Tube channel.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
Noun
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Potential jurors questioned on harassment, retaliation A jury pools of roughly 300 Johnson County residents was whittled down to 110 on Monday morning before attorneys began their questions.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 June 2026
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No connection between the two investigations was alleged, though police said in the wake of the mass shooting that there were concerns about gang retaliation.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retribution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retribution. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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