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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of corrective
Magda Liszewska, Oc Register, 1 June 2026
In a statement last week, Blue Origin said engineers completed their investigation into the upper stage failure and implemented corrective measures ahead of the next New Glenn launch.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 28 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
The mission extended into a second week in Ho Chi Minh City, where PVNF surgical teams performed life-changing procedures, including cleft lip and palate repairs for children who otherwise might never receive corrective surgery.
—Magda Liszewska, Oc Register, 1 June 2026
In a statement last week, Blue Origin said engineers completed their investigation into the upper stage failure and implemented corrective measures ahead of the next New Glenn launch.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 28 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
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San Diego’s leadership should recognize the urgency of these challenges as part of a broader civic agenda and increase resources for early interventions that are rehabilitative rather than punitive.—
Muhammad Aquil,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 June 2026
-
What your employer can't do When a garnishment order is issued, many borrowers will worry that their jobs could be at risk due to punitive action by their employers.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
During Disney’s most recent quarterly report in early May, the company’s entertainment segment reported that streaming revenue offset declines in both linear affiliate fees and advertising.—
Lillian Rizzo,
CNBC,
31 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.—
Kate Bradshaw,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
Block Island, Rhode Island An 80- to 90-minute ferry ride from New London, Connecticut, or Newport, Rhode Island, this approximately 7,000-acre island is the perfect antidote to the more congested Massachusetts destination Nantucket.—
Kira Turnbull,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2026
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Their focus on old values of community, mutual respect, reciprocity and the embrace of the gift economy is an antidote to the individualistic, competitive and combative discourse that’s prevalent in the West today.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
The waterless cooling approach is also beneficial in areas where water is scarce, but sunlight is plentiful.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
11 June 2026
-
Zoli’s lofty warehouse space continues Amant’s design sensibility, employing and elevating simple materials like concrete, brick, and wood, which, says Ebers, are visually warm and acoustically beneficial (a boon nowadays when having a conversation in a restaurant can be increasingly challenging).—
Fiorella Valdesolo,
Vogue,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
As sheriff, Martinez said his administration has acquired new portable radios and stun guns for correctional officers.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2026
-
Vacant positions slated for elimination include 10 probation officers, 15 correctional officers, four child support specialists and dozens of other jobs.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Fans are probably lining up for scones in hopes of spotting Ashley crying behind the counter.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
8 June 2026
-
From Mumbai’s vada pav stalls to Berlin’s vegan döner counters, street food culture is increasingly built around — not adapted for — meat-free diets.—
Lauren Schuster,
Charlotte Observer,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
This distinction matters because the appropriate remedy depends on the problem being solved.—
James Broughel,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
-
Interim letters are expected to be mailed June 8, while additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Corrective.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/corrective. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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