retaliative

adjective

Definition of retaliativenext
as in retaliatory

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for retaliative
  1. retaliatory
  2. revengeful
  3. retributive
  4. punitive
  5. disciplinary
  6. penal
  7. correctional
Adjective
  • The European Union prepared retaliatory tariffs against the United States last year but repeatedly suspended them while negotiating with Washington.
    — Rob Gillies, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Prime Minister Carney said there will be new retaliatory tariffs rolling out next week on steel, dairy appliances, ag equipment, pulp and paper, electronics.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of retaliatory
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of revengeful
Adjective
  • The interviewees were willing to talk openly and honestly about Trump covered by anonymity, a necessity to protect them from this fiercely thin-skinned and retributive president.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 25 June 2026
  • And there’s no question that Israel was pursuing both a political agenda as well as retributive-justice agenda.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 June 2026
Definition of retributive
Adjective
  • Trump’s treatment of South Korea is not unique, having taken punitive measures against a slew of allies who refused to back his invasion of Iran.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The bill, which would ban homeless encampments statewide, could add more punitive measures to enforcement against unsheltered homelessness in Charlotte.
    — Laura Horne, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of punitive
Adjective
  • The Metcalf brothers exchanged violent text messages about jumping students, and were documented to have frequently had disciplinary issues at school, according to a motion presented in court.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Argentina’s federation was separately fined $321,000 for multiple disciplinary breaches during the tournament and ordered to play its next two home games at reduced capacity.
    — Asli Pelit, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of disciplinary
Adjective
  • While the two men entered the Russian penal system around the same time, their cases differ significantly.
    — Jared Kofsky, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The 47-month sentence is notable given the Dutch penal system’s typically short prison terms.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 9 June 2026
Definition of penal
Adjective
  • State police are investigating an incident in a classroom at a youth correctional center where a juvenile was allegedly involved in an altercation with a teacher.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 20 Aug. 2026
  • By Bay City News An inmate serving a life sentence was convicted of assaulting a correctional officer in 2023 with a homemade dagger at Salinas Valley State Prison, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office said.
    — Bay City News, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of correctional
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.

Browse Nearby Words

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retaliative
retaliatory
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Cite this Entry

“Retaliative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retaliative. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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