tit for tat
noun phrase
: an equivalent given in return (as for an injury) : retaliation in kind
tit-for-tat
adjective
Examples of tit for tat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Legality aside, such moves feel tit for tat, so that each change of government might feel like a revolution.
—
Lenora Chu, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Feb. 2024
The tit for tat that had led to the assassination had included the killing of a U.S. contractor, but no U.S. soldiers.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2024
These are tit for tat attacks that have been taking place on either side of the Iran-Pakistan border.
—Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2024
While some could view the Top Gun news as a tit for tat in the war for Cruise headlines, the reality is this sequel has quietly been in development since late fall.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The tit for tat shelling foreshadowed a long winter to come as the counteroffensive ground to a halt and soldiers dug into front lines that barely budged.
—Kamila Hrabchuk, Washington Post, 1 Jan. 2024
Every day for the past six weeks, Israel has attacked Lebanon and Hezbollah has attacked Israel, a pattern that began as a tit for tat and has now blurred into a steady exchange of fire.
—Liz Sly, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2023
Soon, Paras, Josiah, and Dalton got tired of the endless tit for tat.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 14 Nov. 2023
The trauma in Israel today should give pause to those thinking that Israel will simply acquiesce to a short tit for tat.
—Natan Sachs, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2023
Lenora Chu, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Feb. 2024
The tit for tat that had led to the assassination had included the killing of a U.S. contractor, but no U.S. soldiers.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2024
These are tit for tat attacks that have been taking place on either side of the Iran-Pakistan border.
—Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2024
While some could view the Top Gun news as a tit for tat in the war for Cruise headlines, the reality is this sequel has quietly been in development since late fall.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
The tit for tat shelling foreshadowed a long winter to come as the counteroffensive ground to a halt and soldiers dug into front lines that barely budged.
—Kamila Hrabchuk, Washington Post, 1 Jan. 2024
Every day for the past six weeks, Israel has attacked Lebanon and Hezbollah has attacked Israel, a pattern that began as a tit for tat and has now blurred into a steady exchange of fire.
—Liz Sly, Washington Post, 19 Nov. 2023
Soon, Paras, Josiah, and Dalton got tired of the endless tit for tat.
—Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 14 Nov. 2023
The trauma in Israel today should give pause to those thinking that Israel will simply acquiesce to a short tit for tat.
—Natan Sachs, The Atlantic, 7 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tit for tat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
alteration of earlier tip for tap, from tip (blow) + for + tap
First Known Use
1556, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near tit for tat
Cite this Entry
“Tit for tat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tit%20for%20tat. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
More from Merriam-Webster on tit for tat
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share