karmic retribution

noun phrase

Meaning

The idea that a person's actions in one life will determine their fate in future lives, often involving punishment for bad deeds.

Examples

  • She believed that her neighbor's constant bad luck was karmic retribution for his cruelty to animals.
  • The ancient philosophy suggests that all suffering is a form of karmic retribution for past actions.

Synonyms: payback, consequence, retribution, nemesis