verb (transitive) to give back (a payment, reward, punishment, etc) or to give in return for something.

retribute (third-person singular simple present retributes, present participle retributing, simple past and past participle retributed) To pay back; to give in ...

7 дней назад · relating to, or intended to be, deserved and severe punishment: retributive action/justice. There is speculation that his killing might have been retributive.

What does the adjective retribute mean? There is one meaning in OED's entry for the adjective retribute. See 'Meaning & use' for definition, usage, and ...

deserved and severe punishment: They fled because they feared retribution for the genocide. She was asked whether a civilian government should seek retribution.

verb To pay back; to give in return, as payment, reward, or punishment; to requite. To retribute one for his kindness. To retribute just punishment to a ...

With its prefix re-, meaning "back", retribution means literally "payback". And indeed we usually use it when talking about personal revenge, whether it's ... Recompense · Synonyms of retribution · Hereafter

[usually before noun] (formal) that punishes severely somebody who has done something seriously wrong.

adjective. characterized by or involving retribution: retributive justice.