as in retaliatory
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Recent Examples of retributive
The Austro-Hungarian Empire’s retributive demands against Serbia led Russia, a Serbian ally, to mobilize its forces, which in turn provoked Germany to build up troops against Russia and England, another Russian ally.
—
Joel Wuthnow, Foreign Affairs, 12 Sep. 2025
The ongoing feud between President Trump and Bolton, who served as his national security adviser during his first term, has prompted some critics to argue Friday morning’s raid of his home and office was a retributive act.
—Amalia Huot-Marchand, The Hill, 22 Aug. 2025
Russell Vought’s retributive targeting of universities, law firms, and the media.
—Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 15 July 2025
The lawyer articulated a different retributive vision, one that corresponds to, say, dismantling federal agencies via deregulation, or rooting out dark money—not just handcuffing Trump’s enemies for the camera.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for retributive
Joel Wuthnow, Foreign Affairs, 12 Sep. 2025
The ongoing feud between President Trump and Bolton, who served as his national security adviser during his first term, has prompted some critics to argue Friday morning’s raid of his home and office was a retributive act.
—Amalia Huot-Marchand, The Hill, 22 Aug. 2025
Russell Vought’s retributive targeting of universities, law firms, and the media.
—Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 15 July 2025
The lawyer articulated a different retributive vision, one that corresponds to, say, dismantling federal agencies via deregulation, or rooting out dark money—not just handcuffing Trump’s enemies for the camera.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for retributive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retributive
Adjective
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The projectiles fell short, but Israel carried out retaliatory strikes in Beirut and across Lebanon, killing at least six hundred people, including ninety-one children, injuring more than a thousand, and displacing some eight hundred thousand.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
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The damage to the Samuel Roberts prompted the Reagan administration to launch retaliatory strikes against Iranian targets that included warships.—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
12 Mar. 2026
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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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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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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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
Adjective
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Failure to follow the directive could warrant disciplinary action up to and including termination from the police force.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
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Councilmember Vickie Paladino filed a lawsuit against the City Council Monday in an effort to stop a disciplinary process against her for a series of posts disparaging Muslims.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retributive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retributive. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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