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
But with the original termination now reinstated, ACE has hit back in a matter that is set to hit court.
—
Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Danish officials hit back, saying the island was not for sale.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
The rift now out in the open, Bidenworld swiftly hit back.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
The first episode of Season 27 prompted the White House to hit back.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hit back
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Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Danish officials hit back, saying the island was not for sale.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
The rift now out in the open, Bidenworld swiftly hit back.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
The first episode of Season 27 prompted the White House to hit back.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 4 Sep. 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 17 Sep. 2025.
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