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
Which is perhaps why Cuomo’s attempts to hit back at Mamdani’s messaging on housing and affordability fell so flat.
—
Clio Chang, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2025
In the meantime, Musk is hitting back at Altman over his Roadster cancellation.
—PC Magazine, 1 Nov. 2025
Confortola hit back at them in an interview published by Lo Scarpone.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 30 Oct. 2025
Atienza took the post down and withdrew from social media for a time but hit back in subsequent posts at suggestions that her family’s wealth derived from its political connections on her father’s side.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hit back
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Clio Chang, Curbed, 5 Nov. 2025
In the meantime, Musk is hitting back at Altman over his Roadster cancellation.
—PC Magazine, 1 Nov. 2025
Confortola hit back at them in an interview published by Lo Scarpone.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 30 Oct. 2025
Atienza took the post down and withdrew from social media for a time but hit back in subsequent posts at suggestions that her family’s wealth derived from its political connections on her father’s side.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 24 Oct. 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 7 Nov. 2025.
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