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
Another employee spoke with The New Yorker for the 2016 story while wearing a disguise, worried about retribution.
—
Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
The politics of retribution This is the context within which the death penalty legislation operates.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
The doctor asked to be identified by a pseudonym, citing fears of professional retribution.
—Michal Ruprecht, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
Even if there were no hostile government left in place, people within society who have lost everything may still be driven to seek retribution.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retribution
Paula Mejía, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
The politics of retribution This is the context within which the death penalty legislation operates.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
The doctor asked to be identified by a pseudonym, citing fears of professional retribution.
—Michal Ruprecht, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
Even if there were no hostile government left in place, people within society who have lost everything may still be driven to seek retribution.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for retribution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retribution
Noun
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To say both programs, but even more so both fan bases, want revenge against their former coach would be quite the understatement.—
Mark Harris OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
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The movie is understood to follow a sheriff and a doctor who seek revenge against a group of bandits who use the cover of a torrential thunderstorm to rob and terrorize the occupants of a small town.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Some witnesses from immigrant communities declined to participate in the in-person hearings, citing fears of retaliation from the federal government, Baset said.—
Olivia Olander,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
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The union accuses the company of engaging in interference and retaliation by disciplining a bargaining committee member for attending bargaining sessions, protected activity under federal law.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retribution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retribution. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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