as in retaliatory
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
This is especially true when the President seems willing to engage in extralegal tactics, such as selective audits, retributive regulation, and harassment campaigns carried out in the parts of the media that are already loyal to him.
—
Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for retributive
Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for retributive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retributive
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
-
Eventually, this revengeful streak will result in loneliness and isolation.—
Nicole Froio,
refinery29.com,
29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
But advocates for immigrant rights say the community arrests – from raids at factories and restaurants to surprise detentions at ICE check-ins – are punitive measures aimed at instilling fear in blue states and cities.—
Isabelle Chapman,
CNN Money,
5 Aug. 2025
-
The harshness that sometimes emerges in Cliff’s approach to parenting lands with a more punitive thud in that context.—
Laura Bradley,
The Atlantic,
2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
To bring in more workers, the colony’s leaders then requested a conversion to penal status, like others that had been established on the continent since the 1780s.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The assignment to a penal detachment is arguably a death sentence, however, as Russia's military has routinely used ex-convict forces to conduct near-suicidal missions in the war against Ukraine, leading to high casualty rates.—
Anders Hagstrom,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Spending around an hour and a half there, Barca then announced its disciplinary measures in the afternoon in Catalonia.—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
The letter, among other things, reversed previous presidents’ positions on how diversity, equity and inclusion influences schools’ disciplinary measures.—
Hilary Lustick,
The Conversation,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retributive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retributive. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share