retribution

Definitions

re- (back) + tribuere (give) + -ution (noun) = 'a giving back.' What started as neutral repayment narrowed to one kind: the deserved penalty dealt back to a wrongdoer. The idea is moral accounting — the offender is paid back exactly what their actions are owed.

Why It Means This

Retribution sounds like simple revenge, but it carries a sense of deserved, measured payback — justice settling a debt rather than a personal grudge. That's why it pairs with 'divine' (heaven balancing the scales) and 'just.' Compare plain revenge, which needs no fairness: revenge can be wildly out of proportion; retribution implies the punishment fits the crime.

Common Collocations

• 1.swift retribution迅速的惩罚
• 2.divine retribution天谴；神罚
• 3.seek retribution寻求报应
• 4.fear of retribution对报复的恐惧
• 5.fear retribution害怕遭报复

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The villagers feared retribution if they spoke to the police.

• 2.

  He believed the disaster was divine retribution for their greed.

• 3.

  The new law promises swift retribution for corrupt officials.

Easily Confused

retribution vs revenge — both are payback, but retribution implies deserved, proportionate punishment, often by an authority or fate (just/divine retribution). Revenge is personal and emotional, with no built-in sense of fairness. Court delivers retribution; an angry person takes revenge.

Synonym Comparison