CORRECTIVE Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

corrective 1 of 2

adjective

kə-ˈrek-tiv

Definition of corrective

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

as in punitive

inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment a corrective sentence of five years' hard labor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

corrective

2 of 2

noun

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

as in antidote

something that corrects or counteracts something undesirable the only corrective to bad behavior is good, firm discipline

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of corrective

Adjective

In a filing explaining their position in August, prosecutors said that while mistakes were made, corrective measures have since been taken and there is no evidence of vindictive prosecution that would warrant further hearings or sanctions. — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026 Record which component failed, the product’s age, symptoms, installation conditions, corrective action and the time required to resolve it. — Christopher Kiggins, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Noun

These are all refreshing correctives to the texts that previously stood in for contemporary Japan internationally, including any number of small volumes about magical cafés, bookshops, or libraries, often with cats on their covers. — Sarah Chihaya, New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2026 The Young Hoteliers Academy positions itself as a corrective. — Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 30 Oct. 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

Definition of reformative

Adjective

In recent years, affirmative litigation has become an essential tool for defending against punitive federal policy and recovering public funds, Pines and others said.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Trump has slapped tariffs on the Brazilian economy and punitive sanctions on Alexandre de Moraes, the chief justice most heavily involved in the prosecution of Jair Bolsonaro.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of punitive

Noun

Stifel analyst Peter McGoldrick, who covers athletics, footwear and lifestyle brands, noted that elevated input costs is likely to impact margin pressure for the 2027 calendar year before offsets.

— Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
That offset shrinks to only 38mm when installing a 280mm radiator kit.

— Thomas Soderstrom, PC Magazine, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of offset

Noun

Collaborations Galore Molon’s antidote to the moment will lean heavily on cross-pollination and joining forces with players across industries to boost the brand’s repositioning.

— Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
His conservatism was seen by many as an antidote to the excesses of the 1960s and 1970s.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of antidote

Adjective

More broadly, the decoupling could be beneficial for the Nasdaq-100, with Apple potentially serving as a safety trade amid growing AI volatility.

— Fred Imbert, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
And the controversy, the Collins insider says, may turn out to be perversely beneficial.

— Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of beneficial

Adjective

In general, correctional officers should not be involved with inmates’ medical decisions, but health care providers do not have the authority to remove restraints; such decisions reside with the correctional facility.

— M. Sara Rosenthal, STAT, 13 Oct. 2026
Just under 34,000 employees work for the agency, but not all are correctional officers.

— Scott Peyton, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of correctional

Noun

Guests who think an occasional bottle of wine flung on the counter has rendered this custom obsolete should note that any sensible hostess will disagree.

— Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
After a long study of multiple clips, Williams urged Miller to his feet, balancing the laptop in the palm of one hand while demonstrating where the forward should place his hands at each stage of an offensive player’s drive and counter.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of counter

Noun

Local officials have long been aware of anecdotal evidence that lead poisoning caused violence, but failed to seek remedies, Sopp said.

— Yona Gavino, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
Strategies may include dietary and behavioral changes, over-the-counter remedies, and prescription medications for nausea and vomiting.

— Ricardo Correa, EverydayHealth.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of remedy

Browse Nearby Words

correctitude

corrective

correctives

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Corrective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corrective. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of corrective

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

shindig

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes