retributive — relating to or characterized by punishment inflicted as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: relating to or characterized by punishment inflicted as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act
Pronunciation (IPA): /rɪˈtrɪbjətɪv/
Example Sentences
- My mom's retributive cooking means whoever doesn't do dishes gets burnt toast for breakfast.
- The retributive nature of the law ensures that criminals face consequences for their actions.
- His retributive pranks on his roommate escalated until they both ended up with rainbow-colored hair.
retributive
ADJECTIVE[/rɪˈtrɪbjətɪv/]
relating to or characterized by punishment inflicted as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act
The judge delivers a retributive sentence to the corrupt merchant who cheated hundreds.
Retributive justice becomes distributive, weighing each contributive wrong!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin retribuere, meaning 'to pay back' or 'to give in return.' The word originally described the concept of giving someone what they deserved, whether good or bad.
Breakdown
re- (back/again) + tribuere (to give/assign) + -ive (adjective suffix meaning 'having the quality of')
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My mom's retributive cooking means whoever doesn't do dishes gets burnt toast for breakfast.”
“The retributive nature of the law ensures that criminals face consequences for their actions.”
“His retributive pranks on his roommate escalated until they both ended up with rainbow-colored hair.”
“Ancient societies often practiced retributive justice through public punishment.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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