retaliate

verb

re·​tal·​i·​ate ri-ˈta-lē-ˌāt How to pronounce retaliate (audio)
retaliated; retaliating

intransitive verb

: to return like for like
especially : to get revenge

transitive verb

: to repay in kind
retaliate an injury
retaliation noun
retaliative adjective
retaliatory
ri-ˈtal-yə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce retaliate (audio)
-ˈta-lē-ə-
adjective
Choose the Right Synonym for retaliate

reciprocate, retaliate, requite, return mean to give back usually in kind or in quantity.

reciprocate implies a mutual or equivalent exchange or a paying back of what one has received.

reciprocated their hospitality by inviting them for a visit

retaliate usually implies a paying back of injury in exact kind, often vengefully.

the enemy retaliated by executing their prisoners

requite implies a paying back according to one's preference and often not equivalently.

requited her love with cold indifference

return implies a paying or giving back.

returned their call
return good for evil

Examples of retaliate in a Sentence

After the company announced plans to reduce benefits, the union threatened to retaliate by calling for a strike. retaliated his neighbor's malicious destruction of his flower garden by cutting down the man's prize apple tree
Recent Examples on the Web Senior leaders told the board that Altman had allegedly been psychologically abusive by pitting employees against each other and retaliating against employees who shared critical feedback. Nitasha Tiku, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Bowen in his suit against Police Chief Jim Ison claims his First Amendment rights to free speech were violated and the chief retaliated against him over critical remarks the officer made on Facebook. Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Mar. 2024 Tosh Farms allegedly retaliated against several employees for requesting their wages, with the investigation finding that the workers were assigned tasks outside their normal duties, such as cleaning bathrooms and picking up pig waste. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2024 One of protections that the USDA is seeking would stop companies, also known as integrators, from discriminating or retaliating against farmers who speak out. Gavin Off, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2024 Advocates of prison inmates filed a sprawling lawsuit in August accusing prison managers of ignoring decades of warning signs, retaliating against inmates for speaking out and providing insufficient mental and physical health care. Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024 Airlines also would not be able to retaliate against or terminate employees for reporting or issue cease-and-desist letters. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 When these laws are ignored, as is frequently the case in healthcare, markets always find ways to retaliate, harming societal interests. Ge Bai, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 By waiting so long to retaliate, issuing warning after warning, and telegraphing their intention to launch strikes far in advance, the United States and its partners emboldened the militia that dominates much of Yemen. Noam Raydan, Foreign Affairs, 6 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'retaliate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin retaliatus, past participle of retaliare, from Latin re- + talio legal retaliation

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of retaliate was in 1606

Dictionary Entries Near retaliate

Cite this Entry

“Retaliate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retaliate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

retaliate

verb
re·​tal·​i·​ate ri-ˈtal-ē-ˌāt How to pronounce retaliate (audio)
retaliated; retaliating
: to return (as an injury) in kind : get revenge
retaliation noun
retaliatory adjective

Legal Definition

retaliate

intransitive verb
re·​tal·​i·​ate ri-ˈta-lē-ˌāt How to pronounce retaliate (audio)
retaliated; retaliating
: to act in revenge
retaliation noun
retaliative adjective
retaliatory adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on retaliate

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