1
as in counters
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
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2
as in antidotes
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 correctives
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
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
These are not radical demands, but overdue correctives necessary for restoring public trust in higher education.
—Ilya Shapiro, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Sarah Chihaya, New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2026
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
These are not radical demands, but overdue correctives necessary for restoring public trust in higher education.
—Ilya Shapiro, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for correctives
Noun
-
Firefighters see blocked entry and exit points, counters piled high and no clear routes to leave the home in an emergency.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
7 May 2026
-
Hydration support has moved well beyond plain water, and electrolyte powders have become a regular part of workout bags, desk drawers and kitchen counters.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Burkut and the rest have local antidotes for the problem.—
Magdalena Stawkowski,
The Conversation,
8 Apr. 2026
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Keep shopping for cold-hand antidotes from Amazon, below.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Those bulbs spread and multiply by forming little bulblets called offsets, and those grow into larger bulbs.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Through an algebraic analysis of the robots’ parameters, such as the lengths of their links and the offsets of their joints, the team mapped out exactly where the singularities lie within their joint space.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Instead, the decision should be seen as part of our larger national debate over whether, outside the most egregious cases, there is a role for race-conscious remedies in our continuing effort to build a more just society.—
Stephen L. Carter,
Twin Cities,
8 May 2026
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Pros can use chemical treatments alongside natural remedies to solve your spider problem quickly and permanently.—
Dan Simms,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Noun
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Retirement investing often involves intangible assets that exist as account balances and performance charts, while gold and silver remain tied to physical ownership, industrial use, collecting, and centuries of cultural association around value.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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An email obtained by the Herald shows that in January 2025, high-ranking Hialeah officials, including Lynskey, the city attorney and Bovo’s chief of staff, were in discussions with HSA on how to proceed with water payments, including whether the city should bill HSA for Steward’s overdue balances.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Companies around the world have been scrambling to find solutions to supply disruptions since the US and Israel attacked Iran in late February, prompting the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
-
Suddenly, solutions feel easier to grasp, as people are more willing to compromise and collaborate.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Other items from the ship, including the ballasts that served as counterweights for the human cargo, are remaining on display and will be returned to South Africa in two years.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
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Other items from the ship, including the ballasts that served as counterweights for the human cargo, are remaining on display and will be returned to South Africa in two years.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Correctives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/correctives. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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