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
-
Explosive get-off and a deep bag of moves/counters fuel his pocket disruption.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Perfect peppers, minus the frustration of messy counters.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Burkut and the rest have local antidotes for the problem.—
Magdalena Stawkowski,
The Conversation,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Keep shopping for cold-hand antidotes from Amazon, below.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Lastly, what about those spending offsets?—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Lastly, what about those spending offsets?—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Florida has vigorously fought any effort to force health administrators to pay for additional in-home nursing, or to implement other remedies that might reduce the state’s reliance on institutions.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
-
This all comes down to the idea that rights aren’t really rights without remedies.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The three-bedroom home balances character with a livable layout, with two dining spaces with pebble stone floors, a wood-burning fireplace, and an antique wood table.—
Angela Tafoya,
Vogue,
16 Apr. 2026
-
These exercises work the quads in different ways, from eccentric engagement on downhill walks to isometric activation during single-leg balances.—
Julia Ries Wexler,
Health,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Koczwara said the village is also considering engineering solutions to preventing drag races and reckless driving on LaGrange Road as well as within subdivisions.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The companies said the collaboration moves the industry beyond fragmented solutions toward a more unified, scalable infrastructure for understanding and optimizing the physical world.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
21 Apr. 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
-
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 23 Apr. 2026.
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