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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No-fault or lapse-of-time evictions typically occur at the end of the lease, and tenants argued at the rally that these types of evictions are often retaliatory or discriminatory.—
Ginny Monk,
Hartford Courant,
18 Feb. 2026
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Iran responded with retaliatory strikes, setting off what became known as the 12-day war.—
Sophie Brams,
The Hill,
15 Feb. 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
-
Trump is known for taking punitive action.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
21 Feb. 2026
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Trump’s tariffs had upended global trade, leading to countries like Canada to recalibrate their economic partnerships in response to the punitive actions.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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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
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In many cases, those who have been arrested are, in essence, disappeared into the federal penal system.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The judge ordered the Department of Corrections to stop using solitary confinement that lasts longer than three days to punish prisoners for failing to work, and to stop stacking disciplinary infractions related to failure to work to increase the severity of possible punishments.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
16 Feb. 2026
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Healy used to be one of the organizers of the multi-disciplinary Hartford arts venue The Wherehouse, which closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retributive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retributive. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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