as in revengeful
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Recent Examples of retaliatory
The ripples from retaliatory tariffs aren’t contained to Midwestern staple crops.
—
Tristan Bove, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
Early in his career, Bales worked on the department’s gang task force, part of an effort to get ahead of retaliatory violence.
—Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 13 Apr. 2026
One of the most significant clashes was the 2006 war, during which Hezbollah launched strikes against targets in Israel, resulting in a retaliatory invasion of southern Lebanon.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 10 Apr. 2026
Feeling neglected by Les, Lindy has struck up a retaliatory affair with his colleague Richie (O-T Fagbenle), who mistakenly submits one of her students’ short stories to The New Yorker as her own.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Apr. 2026
This is the second time the companies have settled allegations for retaliatory discharge in the last two years.
—Laura Turbay, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Israel and America's Persian Gulf allies are bearing the brunt of Tehran's retaliatory fire.
—Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
This structure ensures that even in the event of a surprise attack, a retaliatory strike remains possible.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, retaliatory missile and drone strikes by Iran embroiled the region.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Tristan Bove, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
Early in his career, Bales worked on the department’s gang task force, part of an effort to get ahead of retaliatory violence.
—Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 13 Apr. 2026
One of the most significant clashes was the 2006 war, during which Hezbollah launched strikes against targets in Israel, resulting in a retaliatory invasion of southern Lebanon.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 10 Apr. 2026
Feeling neglected by Les, Lindy has struck up a retaliatory affair with his colleague Richie (O-T Fagbenle), who mistakenly submits one of her students’ short stories to The New Yorker as her own.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Apr. 2026
This is the second time the companies have settled allegations for retaliatory discharge in the last two years.
—Laura Turbay, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Israel and America's Persian Gulf allies are bearing the brunt of Tehran's retaliatory fire.
—Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
This structure ensures that even in the event of a surprise attack, a retaliatory strike remains possible.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
Meanwhile, retaliatory missile and drone strikes by Iran embroiled the region.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 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
Adjective
-
Any government action against a licensee would cause a protracted legal battle, even more so given the current media-bashing climate, because a station would likely cite Trump’s retributive streak and mount a First Amendment case.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
15 Mar. 2026
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The images captured by bystanders and immigration agents were reminiscent of the lynching postcards that white spectators once bought and traded — reproductions of retributive violence, tailor-made to titillate and intimidate.—
Tressie McMillan Cottom,
Mercury News,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The United States last year also blocked imports from a major South Korean salt farm accused of using slave labor, becoming the first trade partner to take punitive action against a decadeslong problem on salt farms in islands off the country’s southwest coast.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
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At the same time, human-rights organizations reported repression inside the El Rodeo I prison, where foreign political detainees launched a protest that authorities allegedly responded to with tear gas and punitive measures.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Werner declined, on advice from an attorney, to discuss what happened the day the encampment was dismantled but alleges the disciplinary action is politically motivated.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The records include officer personnel and disciplinary files normally kept secret under state law.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The colony’s penal function brought in large sums from the British treasury.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Centuries of penal laws had left Catholics as impoverished tenant farmers, while Protestants – wealthier and less reliant on the crop – had greater resources to survive.—
Paula Kane,
The Conversation,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retaliatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retaliatory. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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