Retribute, also known as retribution, refers to the act of punishing someone for a misdeed or wrongdoing. As such, some antonyms for retribute would include words such as "forgive", "mercy", "pardon", "excuse", "absolve", and "acquittal". When one decides to forgive the wrongdoer instead of seeking retribution, they choose to release the past and move forward without holding a grudge against them. Mercy is also an alternative to retribution as it involves showing compassion and empathy to the offender. Pardoning and excusing would imply that the person responsible is not held accountable for their actions, while absolving and acquittal would mean that they are not guilty of any wrongdoing.