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
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin hit back at the booing crowds at the World Wide Technology Raceway after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300.
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Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
The first episode of Season 27 prompted the White House to hit back.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
On Tuesday, her lawyer hit back at the president's reasoning for dismissing her, while almost 600 economists signed an open letter warning that her potential firing threatened the Fed's independence from government.
—Sean Conlon,john Melloy,chloe Taylor, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
Country stars are hitting back — literally and figuratively.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hit back
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Alex Harrington, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
The first episode of Season 27 prompted the White House to hit back.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
On Tuesday, her lawyer hit back at the president's reasoning for dismissing her, while almost 600 economists signed an open letter warning that her potential firing threatened the Fed's independence from government.
—Sean Conlon,john Melloy,chloe Taylor, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
Country stars are hitting back — literally and figuratively.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 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 13 Sep. 2025.
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