RETALIATORY Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

retaliatory

adjective

Definition of retaliatory

as in revengeful

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of retaliatory Editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, publisher Max Lederer, and reporter Lara Korte at Stars and Stripes – a military news outlet that is partially funded by the Pentagon – claimed their dismissals were retaliatory and violated the First Amendment. — Miles J. Herszenhorn, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026 The two sides traded strikes earlier this week for the first time in over a month, and the new attacks risk another retaliatory cycle. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2026 Iran also launched a retaliatory missile attack targeting Jordan. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026 China’s retaliatory playbook often entails targeting exports from politically powerful industries with few alternative markets—especially farm products with a short shelf life. — Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2026 Patients can also harm their clinicians through retaliatory filings of complaints. — Jennifer Adaeze Okwerekwu, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026 Trade talks between the US and Canada broke down last week, leading to a wave of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs. — ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026 The bank’s management started a campaign of racial discrimination, retaliatory performance reviews and position restructuring to replace him with less-qualified white executives, according to the lawsuit. — Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2026 Pre-fight tensions escalated at the weigh-ins, with Itauma shoving Hrgovic off the stage, leading to a retaliatory slap from Hrgovic, adding fuel to the already compelling matchup. — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for retaliatory

Adjective

DeMar DeRozan had 32, Russell Westbrook had a revengeful 22 and Malik Monk had 26 off the bench.

— Zach Harper, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Brian Heil played Don Jose with angst and ultimately, revengeful rage as Carmen’s spurned lover.

— Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025

Definition of revengeful

Adjective

The interviewees were willing to talk openly and honestly about Trump covered by anonymity, a necessity to protect them from this fiercely thin-skinned and retributive president.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 25 June 2026
And there’s no question that Israel was pursuing both a political agenda as well as retributive-justice agenda.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 June 2026

Definition of retributive

Adjective

However, recent scholarship posits that the structure was used as ordinary (rather than punitive) housing, and that the vulgar decor was in fact a distinguishing characteristic of the epoch.

— Jim Greer, SPIN, 3 Sep. 2026
The Department of Defense attempted to blacklist Anthropic in February after the company refused to remove restrictions on its AI models being used for autonomous weapons and domestic surveillance, a move widely seen as punitive.

— Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of punitive

Adjective

Yet Fernandez was spared disciplinary action from his club after offering to make an undisclosed sum to an anti-discrimination charity (it was never revealed which one).

— Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Cloud was not ejected from the game, nor did the WNBA issue any disciplinary action.

— Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of disciplinary

Adjective

The museum, spanning a former cell block wing, is a deeply informative and well curated journey through the evolution of the nation’s penal system.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026
While the two men entered the Russian penal system around the same time, their cases differ significantly.

— Jared Kofsky, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of penal

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retaliative

retaliatory

retard

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“Retaliatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retaliatory. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of retaliatory

adjective

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