retaliative

adjective

Definition of retaliativenext
as in retaliatory

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for retaliative
  1. revengeful
  2. retributive
  3. punitive
  4. disciplinary
  5. penal
Adjective
  • Eventually, this revengeful streak will result in loneliness and isolation.
    Nicole Froio, refinery29.com, 29 Oct. 2024
  • Artemis was revengeful toward anyone who trespassed in wild nature, and trespassing could mean neglect, like not paying your dues.
    Robert Sullivan, Vogue, 20 June 2023
Definition of revengeful
Adjective
  • By then, President Franklin Pierce and his secretary of war, Jefferson Davis, had already endorsed a retributive expedition of their own against the Lakota.
    Tim Madigan, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
  • The twist of the knife that unleashes Sienna's retributive fury is a revelation that the gruesome pair killed, beheaded, and seemingly stripped the flesh from Jonathan's skull. Want more movie news?
    EW.com, EW.com, 17 Oct. 2024
Definition of retributive
Adjective
  • Companies currying favor have been replaced with those reacting to a climate of fear—of punishing lawsuits, of punitive regulatory reactions—fear that democracy is being replaced by a kind of klepto-feudalism.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
  • However, an essential element is missing regarding student enforcement: eliminating punitive measures, such as suspensions, in favor of more supportive interventions.
    Nia Hayes and Allyssa Williams, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Dec. 2024
Definition of punitive
Adjective
  • That Buzbee is not admitted to this Court—and thus is apparently attempting to avoid its disciplinary authority—only underscores the pressing need for such an order.
    Dominic Patten, Deadline, 18 Dec. 2024
  • The barrier unit puts up metal and wood barriers and other crowd control equipment ahead of protests, parades or other large public gatherings and is largely made up of cops on desk duty facing potential disciplinary action.
    Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 17 Dec. 2024
Definition of disciplinary
Adjective
  • But when a president, at the end of his term in office, in the interest of fairness, corrects mistakes made by the penal system during his or a previous president's term, that is often a grace note of his time in office.
    Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
  • The county prisoners held at the site were moved to Milwaukee County's new penal farm in what was then the Town of Franklin.
    Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2024
Definition of penal
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near retaliative

retaliations

retaliative

retaliatory

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Cite this Entry

“Retaliative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retaliative. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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