hit back
phrasal verb
hit back; hitting back; hits back
informal
: to attack or criticize someone after being attacked or criticized by them
Weary of her rival's accusations, the candidate hit back with an aggressive ad campaign.
The team hit back with a touchdown of their own.
—often + atThe Senator hit back at his critics.
Examples of hit back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump had put 145% tariffs on imports from China, while China hit back with 125% tariffs on U.S. products.
—
Arkansas Online, 25 Apr. 2025
Trump's multiple rounds of tariffs imposed this month on Chinese imports add up to a rate of 145%, prompting China to hit back with retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports totaling 125%.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
DeSantis has criticized the Legislature for not doing enough to move his agenda through, and Perez hit back.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
DeSantis has hit back against Andrade, accusing him and other state House Republicans of sabotaging their own party during a press conference in Andrade’s district earlier this month.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hit back
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Arkansas Online, 25 Apr. 2025
Trump's multiple rounds of tariffs imposed this month on Chinese imports add up to a rate of 145%, prompting China to hit back with retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports totaling 125%.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
DeSantis has criticized the Legislature for not doing enough to move his agenda through, and Perez hit back.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
DeSantis has hit back against Andrade, accusing him and other state House Republicans of sabotaging their own party during a press conference in Andrade’s district earlier this month.
—Julia Manchester, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hit back
Cite this Entry
“Hit back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hit%20back. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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