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
One source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, was interviewed by two FBI agents last July at the agency’s office near Kansas City International Airport.
—
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026
Doncic then sent the fans home happy, retribution for a loss in Denver that preceded their five-game winning streak.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Further new shows include retribution thriller Ab Hoga Hisaab, featuring Shaheer Sheikh, Mouni Roy, Sanjay Kapoor, administrative drama The Bureaucrat, starring Amol Parashar, and high-octane actioner Kaptaan, starring Saqib Saleem.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026
Its awards success was starting to be positioned as retribution after questionable coverage of its initial victories from the likes of Variety and other white power structures that have a reputation for devaluing Blackness.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retribution
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026
Doncic then sent the fans home happy, retribution for a loss in Denver that preceded their five-game winning streak.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Further new shows include retribution thriller Ab Hoga Hisaab, featuring Shaheer Sheikh, Mouni Roy, Sanjay Kapoor, administrative drama The Bureaucrat, starring Amol Parashar, and high-octane actioner Kaptaan, starring Saqib Saleem.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026
Its awards success was starting to be positioned as retribution after questionable coverage of its initial victories from the likes of Variety and other white power structures that have a reputation for devaluing Blackness.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retribution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retribution
Noun
-
Consider this evilmeister’s brazen acts of treason and revenge, unbounded deceit, swinish immorality and negative role modeling.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Out of such poverty comes hatred, resentment and a desire for revenge, and this cycle of hostility can continue for years.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
All three lawsuits allege retaliation by town officials against the plaintiffs.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Busfield has called the allegations an act of retaliation after the boys were recast on the show.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retribution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retribution. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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