1
as in counters
a force or influence that makes an opposing force ineffective or less effective
a substantial outflow of people proved to be the necessary corrective for the spiraling cost of housing
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in antidotes
something that corrects or counteracts something undesirable
the only corrective to bad behavior is good, firm discipline
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of correctives
These are all refreshing correctives to the texts that previously stood in for contemporary Japan internationally, including any number of small volumes about magical cafés, bookshops, or libraries, often with cats on their covers.
—
Sarah Chihaya, New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2026
Some of these values—such as a disciplined commitment to physical fitness—are good and, in my opinion, necessary correctives to the enervating distractions of 21st-century living.
—Dan Brooks, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
These are not radical demands, but overdue correctives necessary for restoring public trust in higher education.
—Ilya Shapiro, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Sarah Chihaya, New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2026
Some of these values—such as a disciplined commitment to physical fitness—are good and, in my opinion, necessary correctives to the enervating distractions of 21st-century living.
—Dan Brooks, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
These are not radical demands, but overdue correctives necessary for restoring public trust in higher education.
—Ilya Shapiro, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for correctives
Noun
-
Even everyday household items—including coffee makers, crockpots and blenders—are showing up at pawn counters.—
ByBryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
OpenAI counters that Musk is looking to boost his own firm, xAI.—
Jacob Rosen,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Burkut and the rest have local antidotes for the problem.—
Magdalena Stawkowski,
The Conversation,
8 Apr. 2026
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Keep shopping for cold-hand antidotes from Amazon, below.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In these zones, the fault splits into multiple strands with sideways offsets between them, creating small extension gaps inside the fault system.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
15 May 2026
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Those bulbs spread and multiply by forming little bulblets called offsets, and those grow into larger bulbs.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Gonzalez Rogers has scheduled a hearing Monday to begin considering options for remedies while the jury deliberates on questions of liability.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
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At this point, this is a legal matter, and the most responsible path forward is accountability through the appropriate process with a focus on donor remedies including the return of funds to impacted donors.—
Andrea Lucia,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
Noun
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Calvo is taking an aggressive stance in seeking to collect outstanding balances from the debtors, including the hospitals, arguing that the city cannot continue allowing large private institutions to accumulate unpaid debt while enforcing strict payment rules on residents.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
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Additional employer or philanthropic initiatives aimed at seeding accounts could further increase early balances.—
Medora Lee,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Noun
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By the end of the year, those small indoor air quality solutions can add up to a healthier home and healthier lungs for the entire family.—
Ryan Brennan
May 19,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2026
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The airlines integrating these solutions range from ultra-low-cost carriers to legacy airlines, spanning regions from North America to the Middle East.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
Noun
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Built by the Mosler Safe Company in Ohio, the vault’s doors opened upward, activated by two massive counterweights that swung down at the press of a button.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
-
Other items from the ship, including the ballasts that served as counterweights for the human cargo, are remaining on display and will be returned to South Africa in two years.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Correctives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/correctives. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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