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
Political retribution is weakness masquerading as strength.
—
Billy Ray, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025
While Comey was targeted for retribution for his actions while in office, Soros was never in government.
—Steve Inskeep, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025
In many ways, gave a blank check to Benjamin Netanyahu to enact a violent campaign of revenge and retribution that has led to the deaths of thousands of civilians.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
This is their version of economic retribution.
—ABC News, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retribution
Billy Ray, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2025
While Comey was targeted for retribution for his actions while in office, Soros was never in government.
—Steve Inskeep, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025
In many ways, gave a blank check to Benjamin Netanyahu to enact a violent campaign of revenge and retribution that has led to the deaths of thousands of civilians.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
This is their version of economic retribution.
—ABC News, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retribution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retribution
Noun
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What first started as a day of joyriding through the city quickly escalates into an adventure of revenge and exposed secrets.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
6 Oct. 2025
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The 3-1 Crimson Tide are looking for revenge after the embarrassing upset in 2024, and a second straight loss to the Commodores could spell doom for the program that head coach Kalen DeBoer is trying to build in his second season in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Russia’s threat of retaliation and its withdrawal from key arms control agreements signal a deteriorating strategic relationship with the United States.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
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And critics warn that data on anti-Jewish discrimination remain incomplete, noting that many incidents go unreported due to fears of retaliation or the belief that doing so will change nothing.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retribution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retribution. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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