Definition

1. Noun:
   • Punishment inflicted as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act: Retribution refers to a penalty or punishment imposed in response to an offense, often with a sense of moral or cosmic justice.
   • A deserved consequence for wrongdoing: It implies a penalty that is seen as justly deserved, fitting the nature of the misdeed.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • Many believed the earthquake was divine retribution for the city's sins.
  • The criminal faced retribution for his violent crimes.
  • The legal system seeks justice, not personal retribution.

Advanced Usage

• "Divine retribution": Punishment believed to be inflicted by a god or supernatural force.
  • The ancient myth is a story of divine retribution for human arrogance.
• "Retributive justice": A system of justice focused on punishment of offenders, as opposed to rehabilitation.
  • His philosophy of law favored retributive justice over restorative models.

Variants and Related Words

• Retributive (adj): Of, relating to, or characterized by retribution.
  • The sentence had a harsh, retributive quality.
• Retributory (adj): Another form of the adjective meaning "inflicting retribution."
  • The law's retributory aspect was clear.

Synonyms

• Punishment: The penalty inflicted for an offense.
• Vengeance: Punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense.
• Recompense (archaic/formal in this sense): Repayment or reward, which can be for good or evil.

Related Phrases

• To exact retribution: To demand and inflict punishment.
  • The victors were poised to exact retribution on the defeated army.
• A retribution for: A punishment or consequence because of something.
  • He feared a terrible retribution for his betrayal.

Related Idioms

• An eye for an eye: The principle of demanding retribution that is equivalent to the offense committed.
  • Their culture's legal code was based on an eye for an eye, a literal form of retribution.
• To meet one's retribution: To finally receive the punishment one deserves.
  • The corrupt official finally met his retribution in a court of law.

Noun

1. the act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done) especially in the next life; I will repay, saith the Lord"--Romans 12:19
   • Vengeance is mine
   • For vengeance I would do nothing. This nation is too great to look for mere revenge--James Garfield
   • he swore vengeance on the man who betrayed him
   • the swiftness of divine retribution
2. the act of correcting for your wrongdoing
3. a justly deserved penalty