as in retaliatory
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Recent Examples of retributive
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
To be sure, some retributive violence has clearly taken place, and thousands of Syrians fearful of militant control have fled to Lebanon.
—Sam Heller, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for retributive
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
To be sure, some retributive violence has clearly taken place, and thousands of Syrians fearful of militant control have fled to Lebanon.
—Sam Heller, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for retributive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retributive
Adjective
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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
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Eventually, this revengeful streak will result in loneliness and isolation.—
Nicole Froio,
refinery29.com,
29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The European Union targets leading American companies with rules, fines, and other punitive actions that undermine their ability to do business in EU countries and deliver technologies to their citizens and small businesses.—
Christopher Hale,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
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Regulation is not something to fear Instinctively, when any type of new regulation comes into force, particularly one that potentially involves fines and other punitive measures, fear and trepidation tend to be the most common reactions off the bat.—
Gus Alexiou,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2025
Adjective
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In the report on El Salvador, whose penal system has become a dumping ground for migrants deported from the United States, there will be no details on the conditions in those prisons.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
1 May 2025
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Convicted in London for conducting clandestine marriages, Grierson was sentenced to 14 years of penal servitude in the American Colonies.—
Alexandra Cox,
Smithsonian Magazine,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Federal law requires the government to go through a number of steps before taking disciplinary action, including providing notice to employees and providing an opportunity to respond.—
Andrea Hsu,
NPR,
23 June 2025
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Esposito was also ejected after Suarez hit Ohtani with a pitch, as is standard for managers when umpires deemed a hit batter was intentional after warnings had been issued, but Esposito was not included in Friday’s disciplinary action.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retributive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retributive. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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