get retribution

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "get retribution" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe someone who is seeking revenge or punishment for a wrong that has been done to them. For example, "Tom was determined to get retribution for the wrongs he suffered at the hands of his former employer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"They had plenty of chances to get retribution.

The New York Times - Sports

So we don't get retribution, deterrence or rehabilitation but, instead, inducements to pursue capital cases.

The New York Times

His Army friends certainly harbored anger at the North Vietnamese -- "many re-upped just to go back and get retribution," he said -- but he remembers sharing "a grudging admiration for them -- they were so indomitable in coming down the Ho Chi Minh Trail to attack us".

The New York Times

But when their duplicitous deceit is exposed, we at least get retribution... sentences that equate to a life-long "time-out" or a deadly "lights-out".

Huffington Post

I made threats of violence and called a bunch of people names, determined to get retribution against the stuck up dickheads who disrespected my household.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Growing up, I also dreamed of getting retribution from the forces that killed my grandparents before I could know them.

The Guardian - Opinion

Everyone's talking about being free, about getting retribution, and the only thing it does, the only thing it ended up doing was making you a prisoner in your own community.

Huffington Post

The majority go for deadpan cool, others like Will Greenwood cannot resist the chance, in time-honoured rugby tradition, to get their retribution in first.

The Guardian - Sport

One of the few ex-political mistresses I can think of who actually did get lasting retribution was Anna Bradley, the mistress of Senator Arthur Brown of Utah, who in 1906 discovered that Brown was sleeping with an actress and shot him to death.

The New York Times

"We just got emotionally involved in trying to get some retribution in some sort of way.

BBC

The UK plaintiffs, whose own claim covers between summer 2011 and spring 2012, may be looking to get financial retribution in this case — as you can see in one of the documents released, the amount of damages is still "unspecified" — but just as equally, they appear also to be looking for a wider change of Google's practices.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "get retribution", consider the context and whether a more specific term like "seek justice" or "exact revenge" might be more appropriate to convey the intended nuance.

Common error

Avoid using "get retribution" in formal or academic writing. Opt for phrases like "obtain redress" or "receive justice" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "get retribution" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the act of obtaining revenge or just deserts. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and can be used to describe seeking punishment for a wrong.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "get retribution" is a grammatically correct way to describe the act of seeking revenge or justice for a wrong. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English. While not overly formal, it finds frequent use in news and media contexts. When writing, consider whether a more specific or formal alternative might better suit your intended tone. Although semantically correct, this phrase has a limited number of examples.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exact revenge

Focuses specifically on personal vengeance, often implying a more direct and personal action.

get payback

An informal term for getting revenge or settling a score.

seek vengeance

Emphasizes the act of actively pursuing revenge or retribution.

obtain redress

Implies seeking compensation or correction for a wrong suffered, often through legal or formal channels.

receive justice

Focuses on achieving a fair outcome through a legal or moral framework.

face consequences

Highlights the inevitability of experiencing the results of one's actions, whether positive or negative.

suffer penalties

Specifically refers to receiving punishments for breaking rules or laws.

be punished

A passive construction indicating that someone is receiving punishment.

extract payment

Implies forcefully obtaining something in return for harm caused.

secure satisfaction

Focuses on achieving a sense of emotional resolution or justice.

FAQs

How can I use "get retribution" in a sentence?

You can use "get retribution" to describe seeking revenge or justice for a perceived wrong. For example, "The victim's family sought to "get retribution" through legal means."

What's a more formal way to say "get retribution"?

More formal alternatives to "get retribution" include phrases like "seek redress", "obtain justice", or "receive satisfaction", depending on the context.

Is "get retribution" the same as "get revenge"?

While similar, "get retribution" often implies a more justifiable or morally grounded pursuit of justice, whereas "get revenge" may suggest a more personal and possibly less justified act of vengeance.

When is it appropriate to use "get retribution"?

It is appropriate to use "get retribution" when describing actions taken to correct a wrong or injustice, often with the implication of a deserved punishment or consequence.