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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Recent Examples of retribution
Further new shows include retribution thriller Ab Hoga Hisaab, featuring Shaheer Sheikh, Mouni Roy, Sanjay Kapoor, administrative drama The Bureaucrat, starring Amol Parashar, and high-octane actioner Kaptaan, starring Saqib Saleem.
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Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026
Its awards success was starting to be positioned as retribution after questionable coverage of its initial victories from the likes of Variety and other white power structures that have a reputation for devaluing Blackness.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
What happens to her — a deadly warning from the man’s criminal boss father — sets in motion two generations of retribution masterminded by one of the cruelest characters Burton has given us.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
And then there’s the question of Iran’s desire for retribution.
—Colin P. Clarke, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retribution
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026
Its awards success was starting to be positioned as retribution after questionable coverage of its initial victories from the likes of Variety and other white power structures that have a reputation for devaluing Blackness.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
What happens to her — a deadly warning from the man’s criminal boss father — sets in motion two generations of retribution masterminded by one of the cruelest characters Burton has given us.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
And then there’s the question of Iran’s desire for retribution.
—Colin P. Clarke, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retribution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retribution
Noun
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Merrill's home run robbery provided a boost early on, but McGonigle got revenge with a game-winning two-run single in a four-run eighth inning for Detroit en route to a 5-2 victory.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
28 Mar. 2026
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These two teams swept each other on the road during the regular season, but Hicks and the Pios exacted part one of their revenge with a 2-1 overtime victory in the semifinals of this year’s Frozen Faceoff.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In retaliation for a ground invasion, Iran’s Houthi allies in Yemen could attack ships in the Red Sea, halting the flow of oil and cargo via a route that’s been used to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
30 Mar. 2026
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Iran has targeted vessels trying to make a crossing in retaliation, effectively stalling marine traffic.—
Charlene Gubash,
NBC news,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retribution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retribution. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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