as in retaliatory
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Recent Examples of retributive
Read a list of Trump’s other retributive actions here.
—
Michael S. Schmidt, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
The Trump administration’s retributive style complicates those questions.
—Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
There will be no retributive actions taken by any FBI should I be confirmed as FBI director.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2025
Repressive crackdowns would follow, triggering a cycle of retributive violence.
—Ned Parker, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2012
See All Example Sentences for retributive
Michael S. Schmidt, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
The Trump administration’s retributive style complicates those questions.
—Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
There will be no retributive actions taken by any FBI should I be confirmed as FBI director.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2025
Repressive crackdowns would follow, triggering a cycle of retributive violence.
—Ned Parker, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2012
See All Example Sentences for retributive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retributive
Adjective
-
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
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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
Adjective
-
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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As Afghanistan's once-again rulers, the Taliban would refrain from retributory violence and respect women's rights - at least so far as Islam allows.—
BostonGlobe.com,
BostonGlobe.com,
17 Aug. 2021
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
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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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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
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
Cite this Entry
“Retributive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retributive. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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