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
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The 40,000-square-foot space also features a specialty grocer, a wine cellar, an artisan butcher, a flower shop, and five creative grab-and-go counters.—
Kat Stinson,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Dec. 2025
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Woven baskets, vintage bread boxes, and handmade or hand-painted pottery should adorn the counters of those fully embracing the Nonna Holiday trend.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The vision underpinning the project reflects Karmitz’s belief that cinemas should serve as antidotes to digital isolation.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
10 June 2026
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There were at least 171 who never returned, losing their life on the battlefield or to a just as deadly adversary – illnesses and infections that had no antidotes in those days.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
Noun
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The startup, an eco-friendly digital banking company boasting fossil fuel-free investments, carbon offsets for gas purchases, and a debit card with cash-back benefits for shopping at clean companies, was founded by Sanberg and Andrei Cherny.—
Lily Wright,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
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For roles that require on-site presence, provide meaningful offsets like predictable schedules, shift preference or commute support.—
Upali Nanda,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2026
Noun
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In rural Ireland, using pigs to cure mumps and snails for warts are just some of the hundreds of remedies once believed to be cures.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
4 Dec. 2025
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Agnes is both a seer and healer, preparing natural remedies for the townsfolk to help with ailments and sickness.—
Nathan Smith,
Time,
26 Nov. 2025
Noun
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What Happens Next According to a TransUnion forecast published Wednesday, credit card balances are expected to grow in 2026, albeit at a more moderate pace than in 2022 and 2023.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Dec. 2025
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Create a Plan to Tackle Debt — The holidays can be costly as credit card balances and extra expenses add up.—
Barbara White,
Kansas City Star,
10 Dec. 2025
Noun
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So, there is a year to develop alternative solutions and benefit from increasing state aid — if economic trends remain steady.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
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The expectations placed on science and technology to deliver solutions—quickly and at scale—have never been higher.—
Rachel Nuwer,
Scientific American,
16 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
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The story of exploding income inequality in the United States, in Dube's telling, is inextricably linked to a concerted assault on the counterweights to monopsony power since the early 1980s.—
Greg Rosalsky,
NPR,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Correctives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/correctives. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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