as in revenge
the act or an instance of responding to an injury with an injury
the neighborhood is being torn apart by an endless cycle of gang violence and retribution
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Recent Examples of retribution
Protests are spreading across the country, other blue states are bracing for retribution, and immigrant communities are increasingly living in fear.
—
Philip Elliott, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
Knowing that the government maintains a comprehensive database of personal information could lead to self-censorship and chill free speech, particularly under an administration that at times appears motivated by retribution.
—Barbara McQuade, Twin Cities, 15 Jan. 2026
Stop this campaign of retribution.
—Greta Bjornson, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
The senator is suing Hegseth to block those proceedings, calling them an unconstitutional act of retribution.
—Joey Cappelletti, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retribution
Philip Elliott, Time, 15 Jan. 2026
Knowing that the government maintains a comprehensive database of personal information could lead to self-censorship and chill free speech, particularly under an administration that at times appears motivated by retribution.
—Barbara McQuade, Twin Cities, 15 Jan. 2026
Stop this campaign of retribution.
—Greta Bjornson, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
The senator is suing Hegseth to block those proceedings, calling them an unconstitutional act of retribution.
—Joey Cappelletti, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retribution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retribution
Noun
-
Both Coleman and Ijeboi will have the chance at revenge games next season.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Although the film became a template for white revenge fantasies, its street thugs are assembled with almost comic care to avoid racial bias.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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For immigration advocates in the Bay Area, Good’s death has intensified long-standing concerns about intimidation and retaliation against those who monitor federal agents.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
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Russia said the attack was retaliation for what Moscow claimed was a Ukrainian drone strike on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence last month.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retribution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retribution. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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