RETRIBUTION

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does retribution mean? 

• RETRIBUTION (noun)
  The noun RETRIBUTION has 3 senses:

1. a justly deserved penalty

2. the act of correcting for your wrongdoing

3. the act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done) especially in the next life

  Familiarity information: RETRIBUTION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RETRIBUTION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A justly deserved penalty

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Synonyms:

requital; retribution

Hypernyms ("retribution" is a kind of...):

penalty (a payment required for not fulfilling a contract)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of correcting for your wrongdoing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("retribution" is a kind of...):

correction; rectification (the act of offering an improvement to replace a mistake; setting right)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done) especially in the next life

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

payback; retribution; vengeance

Context example:

the swiftness of divine retribution

Hypernyms ("retribution" is a kind of...):

retaliation; revenge (action taken in return for an injury or offense)

 Context examples 

There was the awfulness of retribution about it.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I cannot guess how many days have passed since then, but I have endured misery which nothing but the eternal sentiment of a just retribution burning within my heart could have enabled me to support.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

His right hand suddenly ordered divine retribution to stand by.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)