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
Champagnie hit back-to-back 3-pointers, capping a 16-2 run that tied the game at 86 midway through the third.
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CBS News, 1 Jan. 2026
Perry appeared to hit back at the criticism at a concert weeks after the mission, per People.
—Sarah Sotoodeh, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025
Forward Vuk Boskovic scored 10 points and hit back-to-back 3-pointers early in the second half to help the Toreros to a 15-point lead.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Dec. 2025
But Los Angeles quickly hit back, scoring 17 unanswered points.
—Frank Nunns Oconnell, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hit back
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CBS News, 1 Jan. 2026
Perry appeared to hit back at the criticism at a concert weeks after the mission, per People.
—Sarah Sotoodeh, FOXNews.com, 30 Dec. 2025
Forward Vuk Boskovic scored 10 points and hit back-to-back 3-pointers early in the second half to help the Toreros to a 15-point lead.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Dec. 2025
But Los Angeles quickly hit back, scoring 17 unanswered points.
—Frank Nunns Oconnell, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 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 2 Jan. 2026.
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