retributionnoun [ U ]
uk/ˌret.rɪˈbjuː.ʃən/us/ˌret.rəˈbjuː.ʃən/formaldeserved and severe punishment:
They fled because they feared retribution for the genocide.
She was asked whether a civilian government should seek retribution against military officers involved in human rights abuses.
Many saw her death as divine retribution (= punishment by God) for her crimes.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Punishing & punishments
- bar
- be brought/called to account idiom
- boot
- bring
- bum rap
- carrot
- chastise
- clobber
- crucify
- heads will roll! idiom
- kick
- kick (some) ass idiom
- non-custodial
- parking ticket
- penal
- string
- strip
- throw
- throw the book at sb idiom
- wheel clamp
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retributive
adjective [ before noun ] uk/rɪˈtrɪb.jə.tɪv/us/rɪˈtrɪb.jə.t̬ɪv/
retributive action/justice