as in revengeful
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Recent Examples of retaliatory
After Israel killed Iranian military officials in an airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus in April 2024, Iran launched a retaliatory attack involving more than 300 drones, cruise and ballistic missiles, many of which flew over Jordanian territory.
—
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2025
Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants beyond saying that women and children make up around half the dead.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
Key industries such as agriculture, construction, automobiles, energy, health care, technology and advanced industries like aerospace and bioscience face the greatest risk from higher tariffs and the potential for retaliatory tariffs abroad.
—Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 6 Sep. 2025
Trump said his administration may launch a Section 301 investigation against the EU in retaliation, a procedural measure that could lead to retaliatory tariffs.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
Troy DeBie alleging unlawful arrest, retaliatory arrest, reckless or deliberate suppression of evidence, deliberate fabrication of evidence and malicious prosecution.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 28 Aug. 2025
Russia will respond with unspecified retaliatory measures if Austria pursues membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a senior Kremlin official warned Thursday, escalating tensions over Europe's shifting security landscape.
—Amanda Castro
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
The tariffs have, at times, put Kentucky's multi-billion dollar bourbon industry in the crosshairs, with trade partners like Canada and the European Union announcing retaliatory tariffs.
—Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Aug. 2025
Nine current and former staffers accuse VP of Fitness Tech Jay Blahnik of inappropriate and retaliatory behavior.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2025
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2025
Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants beyond saying that women and children make up around half the dead.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
Key industries such as agriculture, construction, automobiles, energy, health care, technology and advanced industries like aerospace and bioscience face the greatest risk from higher tariffs and the potential for retaliatory tariffs abroad.
—Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 6 Sep. 2025
Trump said his administration may launch a Section 301 investigation against the EU in retaliation, a procedural measure that could lead to retaliatory tariffs.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
Troy DeBie alleging unlawful arrest, retaliatory arrest, reckless or deliberate suppression of evidence, deliberate fabrication of evidence and malicious prosecution.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 28 Aug. 2025
Russia will respond with unspecified retaliatory measures if Austria pursues membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a senior Kremlin official warned Thursday, escalating tensions over Europe's shifting security landscape.
—Amanda Castro
john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
The tariffs have, at times, put Kentucky's multi-billion dollar bourbon industry in the crosshairs, with trade partners like Canada and the European Union announcing retaliatory tariffs.
—Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Aug. 2025
Nine current and former staffers accuse VP of Fitness Tech Jay Blahnik of inappropriate and retaliatory behavior.
—Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retaliatory
Adjective
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Fans hoping for a revengeful scoring outburst were left wanting a little more, however, as Dončić — a career 28.6 points per game scorer — added only 10 points over the final three quarters.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC News,
26 Feb. 2025
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Eventually, this revengeful streak will result in loneliness and isolation.—
Nicole Froio,
refinery29.com,
29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Russell Vought’s retributive targeting of universities, law firms, and the media.—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
15 July 2025
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The lawyer articulated a different retributive vision, one that corresponds to, say, dismantling federal agencies via deregulation, or rooting out dark money—not just handcuffing Trump’s enemies for the camera.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
11 May 2025
Adjective
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In the spring, investors were worried the Department of Justice’s monopoly ruling meant that the search giant would be forced into a breakup that would be undoubtedly punitive, Cramer said.—
Julie Coleman,
CNBC,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The suit, served on Sharp last week, seeks unspecified punitive and compensatory damages and reimbursement for attorney’s fees.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Suarez, the 38-year-old Uruguayan icon and one of the greatest strikers in history with more than 500 goals for club and country, has had his legacy stained by disciplinary issues.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
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An outside hearing examiner overturned the December dismissal of Matthew Krueger, saying there was no cause to support any disciplinary action, according to a Facebook post by the Fort Worth Police Officers Association.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Former warden Randall Hepp and eight other workers at Waupun were charged with misconduct in office and abuse of residents of a penal facility related to the deaths of Maier and another prisoner.—
Vanessa Swales,
jsonline.com,
20 Aug. 2025
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Joshua Anderson, who worked at Northeast Correctional Complex in Mountain City until February 2024, was indicted in September on charges of bringing contraband into a penal facility, official misconduct and bribery of a public servant.—
Evan Mealins,
The Tennessean,
10 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retaliatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retaliatory. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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