as in retaliatory
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Recent Examples of retributive
For millennia, punishment was considered morally defensible purely on retributive grounds.
—
Paul Rosenzweig, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Instead, Trump is reinforcing a pattern of tit-for-tat retributive permitting that could ultimately be more damaging to the oil and gas industry, which is under pressure to maintain market share in the US and globally before the economy shifts more to clean energy.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 23 Dec. 2025
The incident, as well as post-ceasefire clashes between Israeli forces and Gazans and retributive executions by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, underscores the fragility of Trump's historic deal, which is still only in its initial phase.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Oct. 2025
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
Paul Rosenzweig, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026
Instead, Trump is reinforcing a pattern of tit-for-tat retributive permitting that could ultimately be more damaging to the oil and gas industry, which is under pressure to maintain market share in the US and globally before the economy shifts more to clean energy.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 23 Dec. 2025
The incident, as well as post-ceasefire clashes between Israeli forces and Gazans and retributive executions by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, underscores the fragility of Trump's historic deal, which is still only in its initial phase.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Oct. 2025
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
Adjective
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Those tensions were magnified after Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, when progressives in New York began demonstrating against Israel’s retaliatory war in Gaza.—
Russell Berman,
The Atlantic,
7 June 2026
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Israel's retaliatory military campaign has so far killed more than 72,900 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 June 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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Borrowing becomes less punitive.—
Richard Polgar,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
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Jurors decided that Grossman acted with malice and oppression and Erickson acted with malice, oppression, or fraud, kicking off the punitive phase of the trial.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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The 47-month sentence is notable given the Dutch penal system’s typically short prison terms.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
9 June 2026
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Colorado was the first of eight states to repeal its penal exception clause.—
Julia Bowling,
The Conversation,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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But more than a year and a half later, Sayeg’s disciplinary case remains ongoing.—
Gregory Royal Pratt,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
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Separately and via the NCAA’s internal disciplinary process, the NCAA recently denied an eligibility appeal Texas Tech filed with the NCAA on Sorsby’s behalf.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retributive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retributive. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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