SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
retribution
noun
Punishment imposed in response to wrongdoing.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Punishment for wrongdoing
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topRetribution emphasizes punishment viewed as deserved. Revenge and vengeance emphasize a retaliatory motive and do not establish justice.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See retribution in use
The drama asks whether retribution can ever resolve the family's conflict.
The regent calls the planned penalty retribution for disobedience, although the narrative invites readers to question whether a respectful correction was wrongdoing at all.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license