1
as in reformative
serving to raise or adjust something to some standard or proper condition
eyeglasses are called corrective lenses by the department of motor vehicles
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in punitive
inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment
a corrective sentence of five years' hard labor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in offset
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective
a substantial outflow of people proved to be the necessary corrective for the spiraling cost of housing
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in antidote
something that corrects or counteracts something undesirable
the only corrective to bad behavior is good, firm discipline
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of corrective
Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 20 May 2026
Torn between toiling away at farmwork, his corrective swimming lessons, and learning music from a local organist — the elderly Michel (Alexandre Astier, Clichy’s former directing partner), who shows him more kindness than most — Christophe’s world gradually widens.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 19 May 2026
Dan Brooks, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
The 2025 College Rankings from Washington Monthly offer a corrective.
—Bruno V. Manno, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for corrective
Adjective
Let’s dig into the reasons why mulch no longer does its job and how to know when to take corrective action to keep your garden soil moist.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 20 May 2026
Torn between toiling away at farmwork, his corrective swimming lessons, and learning music from a local organist — the elderly Michel (Alexandre Astier, Clichy’s former directing partner), who shows him more kindness than most — Christophe’s world gradually widens.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 19 May 2026
Noun
Some of these values—such as a disciplined commitment to physical fitness—are good and, in my opinion, necessary correctives to the enervating distractions of 21st-century living.
—Dan Brooks, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
The 2025 College Rankings from Washington Monthly offer a corrective.
—Bruno V. Manno, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for corrective
Recent Examples of Synonyms for corrective
Adjective
-
As part of the reformative aims of the convict system, many of these men were incarcerated at Fremantle Prison, trained, and put to work on infrastructure projects such as bridges, roads, and public buildings.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Fifty-five years after Martin Luther King's death, African Americans continue to proudly honor his reformative legacy in Phoenix.—
The Arizona Republic,
The Arizona Republic,
14 Jan. 2024
Adjective
-
The suit accuses the former clerk of violating Murdaugh’s right to a fair trial and seeks punitive and compensatory damages, as well as $600,000 of attorneys’ fees.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
23 May 2026
-
To be sure, the administration pulled back from its most punitive rates, and the Supreme Court struck down its global levies.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
This can provide some offset to the security's overall tax inefficiencies.—
Bill Stone,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
-
Apply a thin crumb coat of buttercream over the entire cake to seal in crumbs, using an offset spatula to smooth it evenly.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
Notre Dame’s dominance has been highlighted by relentless fundamentals and limited errors, the perfect antidote to Syracuse’s free-flowing and occasionally careless approach.—
Tribune News Service,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
-
Wasn’t love supposed to be the antidote to a head full of poison, a heart full of doubt?—
Quinn Moreland,
Pitchfork,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
Another critic blasted Moore and other AI defenders for treating the technology as unavoidable rather than beneficial.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
-
Marigolds, sunflowers, and borage boost pollination, repel aphids, and attract beneficial insects.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
In one instance, an execution was called off after correctional officers had already strapped Glossip to a gurney and begun preparing to give him a lethal injection.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
-
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals this week ruled against a White correctional officer who alleged DEI training from the Colorado Department of Corrections created a racially hostile work environment.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
The 30-seat Soho counter restaurant makes each roll to order, placing them directly into your palm to be eaten on the spot.—
Rachel Dube,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
As words have incantatory power to shift elements of fate, as well as matters of the heart, this project calls forward questions around an alleged family curse from Nagasaki and the writing process as its own counter-spell.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
In 1935, the owner of the then sad-sack Philadelphia Eagles grew tired of better teams scooping up all the best players, and proposed the draft as a remedy.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
The laws of New York authorize such a turnover order generally as a post-judgment enforcement remedy.—
Jay Adkisson,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Corrective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corrective. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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