as in revengeful
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Recent Examples of retaliatory
Germany, which represents the EU’s biggest economy and export market, has waffled over hitting China with sanctions or duties, worried about retaliatory measures.
—
Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 18 June 2026
The lawsuit alleges his firing was retaliatory.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026
According to Israeli and American reports, over the past week, the president forced Israel to abort imminent retaliatory strikes on Iran and demanded that the country restrict its response to Hezbollah fire from Lebanon that has pummeled the Israeli north.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026
Current House rules allow any one lawmaker to force a vote on disciplining a colleague, setting the stage for censure clashes that have frequently become retaliatory grudge matches.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 16 June 2026
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett credits his city’s plunging murder rate in large part to Indy Peace, a CVI program that offers support to gunshot victims and their families in the hope of preventing retaliatory shootings.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 15 June 2026
In February 2026, Joslin filed a lawsuit against several government agencies and officials, alleging unlawful and retaliatory action in response to peaceful off-duty expression.
—Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
The previous law was supposed to protect tenants who take those actions and prohibit retaliatory evictions, but the burden was on tenants to prove retaliation, according to a county news release.
—Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Shortly after the settlement, news broke that — under California legislation — Lively was seeking damages and attorney’s fees related to Baldoni’s defamation filing, which the actress said was retaliatory.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026
Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 18 June 2026
The lawsuit alleges his firing was retaliatory.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026
According to Israeli and American reports, over the past week, the president forced Israel to abort imminent retaliatory strikes on Iran and demanded that the country restrict its response to Hezbollah fire from Lebanon that has pummeled the Israeli north.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026
Current House rules allow any one lawmaker to force a vote on disciplining a colleague, setting the stage for censure clashes that have frequently become retaliatory grudge matches.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 16 June 2026
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett credits his city’s plunging murder rate in large part to Indy Peace, a CVI program that offers support to gunshot victims and their families in the hope of preventing retaliatory shootings.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 15 June 2026
In February 2026, Joslin filed a lawsuit against several government agencies and officials, alleging unlawful and retaliatory action in response to peaceful off-duty expression.
—Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
The previous law was supposed to protect tenants who take those actions and prohibit retaliatory evictions, but the burden was on tenants to prove retaliation, according to a county news release.
—Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 12 June 2026
Shortly after the settlement, news broke that — under California legislation — Lively was seeking damages and attorney’s fees related to Baldoni’s defamation filing, which the actress said was retaliatory.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retaliatory
Adjective
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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
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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
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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
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The Front Page Highlights The president’s unilateral and retributive style of governing is starting to hit a wall in both chambers of Congress.—
Katie Rogers Adriana Loureiro Fernandez Nina Agrawal Ryan Mac,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Adjective
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Borrowing becomes less punitive.—
Richard Polgar,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
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Jurors decided that Grossman acted with malice and oppression and Erickson acted with malice, oppression, or fraud, kicking off the punitive phase of the trial.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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Ronaldo is only eligible to play in Portugal’s World Cup opener because FIFA’s disciplinary committee opted to suspend the final two games of his three-match suspension after he was sent off in Portugal’s penultimate World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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The Big 12 points out that Texas Tech participated in the disciplinary process and voted in favor of punishing Baylor.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
15 June 2026
Adjective
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The 47-month sentence is notable given the Dutch penal system’s typically short prison terms.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
9 June 2026
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Colorado was the first of eight states to repeal its penal exception clause.—
Julia Bowling,
The Conversation,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retaliatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retaliatory. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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