as in revengeful
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Recent Examples of retaliatory
Under the deal, Ottawa would roll back 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles while Beijing would lift retaliatory tariffs on Canadian canola seeds and meal.
—
Anniek Bao, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
Now European leaders, after tiptoeing around Trump for the past year, are openly discussing retaliatory tariffs.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
That in turn prompted threats of retaliatory economic measures from those countries, which were already subject to tariffs of 10% and 15%.
—Richard Hall, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
The Court dismissed Wayfarer's retaliatory countersuit in its entirety last June.
—Elizabeth Rosner, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Busfield's attorneys have argued that the allegations emerged only after the boys lost their role in the TV show, creating a financial and retaliatory motive.
—CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Busfield’s attorneys have argued that the allegations emerged only after the boys lost their role in the TV show, creating a financial and retaliatory motive.
—Morgan Lee, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Speaking to the media on Monday morning, Klingbeil encouraged the European Union not to be reluctant to use retaliatory measures against the United States if tariffs were implemented.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 19 Jan. 2026
Starmer indicated that Britain, which is not part of the EU, is not planning to consider retaliatory tariffs.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 19 Jan. 2026
Anniek Bao, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
Now European leaders, after tiptoeing around Trump for the past year, are openly discussing retaliatory tariffs.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 21 Jan. 2026
That in turn prompted threats of retaliatory economic measures from those countries, which were already subject to tariffs of 10% and 15%.
—Richard Hall, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
The Court dismissed Wayfarer's retaliatory countersuit in its entirety last June.
—Elizabeth Rosner, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Busfield's attorneys have argued that the allegations emerged only after the boys lost their role in the TV show, creating a financial and retaliatory motive.
—CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Busfield’s attorneys have argued that the allegations emerged only after the boys lost their role in the TV show, creating a financial and retaliatory motive.
—Morgan Lee, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Speaking to the media on Monday morning, Klingbeil encouraged the European Union not to be reluctant to use retaliatory measures against the United States if tariffs were implemented.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 19 Jan. 2026
Starmer indicated that Britain, which is not part of the EU, is not planning to consider retaliatory tariffs.
—Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 19 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for 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
Adjective
-
For millennia, punishment was considered morally defensible purely on retributive grounds.—
Paul Rosenzweig,
The Atlantic,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Instead, Trump is reinforcing a pattern of tit-for-tat retributive permitting that could ultimately be more damaging to the oil and gas industry, which is under pressure to maintain market share in the US and globally before the economy shifts more to clean energy.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
23 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
As the comedy progresses, its buoyant tone clenches and darkens, and the plot bends and lurches, in ways that, to me, felt unnecessarily punitive toward both Haru and the audience.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
31 Jan. 2026
-
But what was once punitive would eventually be relabeled.—
Outside,
Outside,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Inadequate investigative staffing, reluctance to credit inmate testimony, and weak disciplinary processes allowed misconduct to persist.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Libraries now serve as disciplinary centers or are gone from schools entirely.—
Bri Hatch,
Chalkbeat,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In many cases, those who have been arrested are, in essence, disappeared into the federal penal system.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Hollfelder had been charged with abuse of residents of penal facilities, a felony that can carry a sentence of up to 1½ years in prison and two years on extended supevision.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retaliatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retaliatory. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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