to repay or reward for service, kindness, or wrongdoing, to take revenge on someone who has wronged you

Formal and Informal Expressions of retribute

In different contexts, you can replace 'retribute' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'repay, reward' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'pay back, get back at' is a commonplace synonym.

retribute: Explore its Definition & Usage

retribute Definition

1to repay or reward for service, kindness, or wrongdoing
2to take revenge on someone who has wronged you

Using retribute: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "retribute" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The company will retribute its employees with bonuses for their hard work.
Example
He decided to retribute the favor by helping his friend move.
Example
She sought to retribute her ex-boyfriend for cheating on her.
Example
The victim's family demanded that the murderer be retributed for his crime.

retribute Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for retribute

Phrases with retribute

retribute evil for evil
to take revenge on someone who has wronged you
Example
The saying 'an eye for an eye' means to retribute evil for evil.
retribute good for evil
to repay kindness or forgiveness instead of taking revenge
Example
She chose to retribute good for evil by forgiving her enemy.
retribute in kind
to repay someone in the same way they have treated you
Example
He decided to retribute in kind by playing a prank on his friend who had previously pranked him.

Origins of retribute

from Latin 'retributus', meaning 'to assign again'

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Summary: retribute in Brief

'Retribute' [ri-trib-yoot] is a verb that means to repay or reward for service, kindness, or wrongdoing, or to take revenge on someone who has wronged you. It can be used in phrases like 'retribute evil for evil,' which means to take revenge, or 'retribute good for evil,' which means to repay kindness instead of taking revenge.