retributive

adjective

Definition of retributivenext
as in retaliatory

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of retributive The Front Page Highlights The president’s unilateral and retributive style of governing is starting to hit a wall in both chambers of Congress. — Katie Rogers Adriana Loureiro Fernandez Nina Agrawal Ryan Mac, New York Times, 5 June 2026 The images captured by bystanders and immigration agents were reminiscent of the lynching postcards that white spectators once bought and traded — reproductions of retributive violence, tailor-made to titillate and intimidate. — Tressie McMillan Cottom, Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2026 For millennia, punishment was considered morally defensible purely on retributive grounds. — Paul Rosenzweig, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for retributive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retributive
  1. retaliatory
  2. revengeful
  3. retributory
  4. punitive
  5. penal
  6. disciplinary
Adjective
  • These attacks were often met by retaliatory operations that saw the insurgents suffer significant casualties.
    — Chinatsu Tsuji, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Oxygen Forensics denied those claims and sued Weissberg for defamation in August in federal court in Virginia, calling the video part of a retaliatory campaign.
    — Anniek Bao,Dan Mangan, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of retaliatory
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of revengeful
Adjective
  • 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
Definition of retributory
Adjective
  • Rather than imposing more punitive rules on all shoppers, however, retailers should identify high-risk returns and apply additional verification selectively to protect the customer experience for the vast swathe of legitimate patrons.
    — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The measure would have barred Switzerland from joining punitive measures against other countries unless they were imposed by the United Nations.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of punitive
Adjective
  • Their ruling states that investigators should not have cited penal law as justification for seizing the artwork, and reproaches a lower court’s previous approval of their methods.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • She had originally been charged with abuse of residents of penal facilities, a felony.
    — Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of penal
Adjective
  • That same day, at least one student received a disciplinary notice asking them to schedule a meeting with the student conduct administrator in less than two weeks.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The court documents show at least one fraternity member is fighting in court to overturn the disciplinary action against him and clear his academic record.
    — Susan Svrluga, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of disciplinary

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retributions
retributive
retributory
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Cite this Entry

“Retributive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retributive. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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