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
-
The counters were regularly wiped clean because of messy diaper changes and after meals.—
Jenny Hughes,
Parents,
28 May 2026
-
The Michelin Guide on Thursday afternoon announced that a pair of chef counters, Emelina in West Palm Beach and Mutra in North Miami, each earned one star.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
28 May 2026
Noun
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Be Disciplined Clarity about goals and processes is one of the best antidotes to bias.—
Thierry Brunel,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
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Burkut and the rest have local antidotes for the problem.—
Magdalena Stawkowski,
The Conversation,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Future removals, offsets, shifting baselines, and technological breakthroughs can keep many strategies plausible at once.—
London Business School,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
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Our analysis finds that F1 racing could achieve substantial cuts in emissions – but getting all the way to net zero will still require carbon offsets.—
Caitlin Grady,
The Conversation,
19 May 2026
Noun
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It can usually be managed effectively with over-the-counter remedies and often resolves on its own after middle age.—
Petra Guglielmetti,
Glamour,
27 May 2026
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For retailers selling across multiple regions, that type of operational structure is relevant as brands evaluate how reimbursements, protection programs and customer remedies are managed.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
Noun
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In addition, officials said, another invoice has since gone past its due date, with total overdue balances reaching approximately $916,000.—
Nathan Ansell,
Arkansas Online,
29 May 2026
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But at his best, Bukayo Saka is just as effective, and a left-footer balances the attack out nicely.—
Sarah Shephard,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Microchip Technology — The semiconductor stock rallied 12% after Microchip released revenue information for its data center solutions business unit.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
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Most believe there could be solutions through civil dialog, there are answers in the middle, and there is destructive disunity at the fringes.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
2 June 2026
Noun
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Built by the Mosler Safe Company in Ohio, the vault’s doors opened upward, activated by two massive counterweights that swung down at the press of a button.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 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.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Correctives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/correctives. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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