hit back
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
Spencer Pratt keeps hitting back against his loudest critics.
—
Emily Trainham, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2026
In a remote Chinese desert, a vast military complex is taking shape that some security scholars say appears built to ensure no American first strike on China’s nuclear arsenal could reliably knock out Beijing’s ability to hit back.
—Reuters, NBC news, 29 May 2026
Dykoff, Mungarrieta and Jordan Bach hit back-to-back-to-back homers in the seventh inning of Saturday’s 9-0 Big 12 tourney title win over West Virginia.
—Gary Bedore
may 28, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Duran and Rafaela became just the second Red Sox players to hit back-to-back home runs this season, following Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu back on May 5 against the Detroit Tigers.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hit back
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Emily Trainham, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2026
In a remote Chinese desert, a vast military complex is taking shape that some security scholars say appears built to ensure no American first strike on China’s nuclear arsenal could reliably knock out Beijing’s ability to hit back.
—Reuters, NBC news, 29 May 2026
Dykoff, Mungarrieta and Jordan Bach hit back-to-back-to-back homers in the seventh inning of Saturday’s 9-0 Big 12 tourney title win over West Virginia.
—Gary Bedore
may 28, Kansas City Star, 28 May 2026
Duran and Rafaela became just the second Red Sox players to hit back-to-back home runs this season, following Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu back on May 5 against the Detroit Tigers.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 27 May 2026
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 1 Jun. 2026.
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