retributive
Seeking deserved punishment
Retributive describes punishment or justice focused on payback rather than rehabilitation or deterrence.
A retributive system gives offenders what they deserve based on the severity of their crime: The judge took a retributive approach, matching the sentence to the harm caused.
The word often appears in legal and philosophical discussions about the purpose of punishment.
Penalty for an offense
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- disciplinaryRelated to enforcing rules
- correctionalAimed at rehabilitation
penal · deterrent · chastening · condemnatory · admonitory · censure · reprimand · harsh
Punishing a wrongdoer
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- reprisalPunitive action in return
- avengerRetribution dealer
- wrathFierce, punishing anger
nemesis · tit-for-tat · blood feud · vendetta · grudge · comeuppance · counterstrike · backlash
Penalty for an offense
- desertTo leave behind completely
- proportionalityScaling relationship between quantities
- sentencingImposing legal punishment
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
judgment · accountability · fairness · impartiality · judiciary · lawfulness · moral · righteousness
Compensation for injury done
- compensationPayment for services rendered
- redressCompensation for injury
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
- recompensePayment for loss
requital · indemnification · atonement · restoration · remedy · repayment · damages · satisfaction
punishment
Penalty for an offense
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- disciplinaryRelated to enforcing rules
correctional · penal · deterrent · chastening · condemnatory · admonitory · censure · reprimand · harsh · severe
revenge
Punishing a wrongdoer
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- reprisalPunitive action in return
- avengerRetribution dealer
wrath · nemesis · tit-for-tat · blood feud · vendetta · grudge · comeuppance · counterstrike · backlash · reckoning
punishment
Penalty for an offense
- desertTo leave behind completely
- proportionalityScaling relationship between quantities
- sentencingImposing legal punishment
culpability · judgment · accountability · fairness · impartiality · judiciary · lawfulness · moral · righteousness · equity
reparation
Compensation for injury done
- compensationPayment for services rendered
- redressCompensation for injury
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
recompense · requital · indemnification · atonement · restoration · remedy · repayment · damages · satisfaction · restitutive
retributiverestorative
Promoting return to health
rehabilitative · reformative · reconciliatory · therapeutic · corrective
- divine retributionPunishment delivered by deity
- karmic retributionFate repaying past deeds
- retributive justicePunishment proportional to offense