as in revengeful
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Recent Examples of retaliatory
The United States and Israel have conducted coordinated strikes on Iran since February 28, prompting retaliatory attacks that have escalated into a widening war across the Middle East.
—
Kara Fox, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Iran kept up its retaliatory attacks on Israel, American bases and countries around the region.
—Jon Gambrell, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
In the wake of these events, Israel is facing retaliatory missile fire and civilians across the region are paying the price, with families displaced, communities shaken and innocent lives lost.
—Audra Berg, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
The Islamic Republic has reportedly expanded retaliatory strikes to countries around the Persian Gulf.
—Pegah Banihashemi, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
China has major investments in energy-rich Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, both of which have been targeted by Iran’s deadly retaliatory strikes.
—Jasmine Green, NBC news, 5 Mar. 2026
Shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have stalled, while retaliatory attacks through the Middle East have dented oil production.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Strikes from Israel and the United States on February 28, which killed the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has led to retaliatory conflict, causing more than 800 deaths.
—Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Experts stress that flights scheduled in the coming days and weeks could continue to see disruptions — causing ripple effects globally, especially as the war widens with retaliatory strikes in the Gulf states.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Kara Fox, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Iran kept up its retaliatory attacks on Israel, American bases and countries around the region.
—Jon Gambrell, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
In the wake of these events, Israel is facing retaliatory missile fire and civilians across the region are paying the price, with families displaced, communities shaken and innocent lives lost.
—Audra Berg, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2026
The Islamic Republic has reportedly expanded retaliatory strikes to countries around the Persian Gulf.
—Pegah Banihashemi, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
China has major investments in energy-rich Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, both of which have been targeted by Iran’s deadly retaliatory strikes.
—Jasmine Green, NBC news, 5 Mar. 2026
Shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have stalled, while retaliatory attacks through the Middle East have dented oil production.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
Strikes from Israel and the United States on February 28, which killed the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has led to retaliatory conflict, causing more than 800 deaths.
—Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Experts stress that flights scheduled in the coming days and weeks could continue to see disruptions — causing ripple effects globally, especially as the war widens with retaliatory strikes in the Gulf states.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retaliatory
Adjective
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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
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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
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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
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For millennia, punishment was considered morally defensible purely on retributive grounds.—
Paul Rosenzweig,
The Atlantic,
3 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Doing that is not aggressive or punitive.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
6 Mar. 2026
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Drug policy reform that is grounded in scientific evidence would favor stigma-free counseling and treatment over punitive measures.—
Lauren Micalizzi,
STAT,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Iranian federation also would face disciplinary fines from FIFA — at least 250,000 Swiss francs ($321,000) for withdrawing up to 3 days before the tournament, and at least 500,000 Swiss francs ($642,000) if the decision is in the last month before kickoff.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
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The Iranian federation also would face disciplinary fines from FIFA — at least 250,000 Swiss francs ($321,000) for withdrawing up to 30 days before the tournament, and at least 500,000 Swiss francs ($642,000) if the decision is in the last month before kickoff.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Tennessee had one of the worst penal systems in America, and the problems continued well into the twentieth century.—
James Verini,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
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Russell is charged with both abuse of residents in penal facilities and misconduct in public office.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retaliatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retaliatory. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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