retaliate

verb

re·tal·i·ate | \ ri-ˈta-lē-ˌāt

retaliated; retaliating

Definition of retaliate

transitive verb

: to repay in kind retaliate an injury

intransitive verb

: to return like for like especially : to get revenge

Other Words from retaliate Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about retaliate

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Other Words from retaliate

retaliation \ ri-ˌta-lē-ˈā-shən

, ˌrē- \ noun

retaliative \ ri-ˈta-lē-ˌā-tiv

\ adjective

retaliatory \ ri-ˈtal-yə-ˌtȯr-ē

, -ˈta-lē-ə- \ adjective

Synonyms for retaliate

Synonyms

avenge, redress, requite, revenge, venge [archaic]

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

Japan, unlike China, isn’t moving to block U.S. goods by retaliating for Trump administration tariffs. — Jacob M. Schlesinger, WSJ, "U.S. Farmers Fear Lucrative Japanese Exports Will Wither," 25 Dec. 2018 Officials said White also is accused of retaliating against staff, and transferring employees out of their jobs without cause, including after staff complained about certain assignments and tasks. — Lolita C. Baldor, Fox News, "Pentagon spokeswoman under inspector general investigation," 15 Aug. 2018 All involved kept the action secret, in hopes of keeping Mr. Assad from retaliating, but it was revealed, by The New York Times and others, a few weeks later. — David E. Sanger, New York Times, "Trump Greets Plans for North Korea-Syria Meeting With Deafening Silence," 4 June 2018 China has promised to impose tariffs on U.S. farm exports as a way of retaliating against Trump's planned tariffs. — Anchorage Daily News, "Analysis: Trump chooses impulse over strategy as crises mount," 12 Apr. 2018 Tabman left the bureau in 2007 after Special Agent Harry Samit accused him of retaliating against him when Tabman was running the FBI’s Minneapolis office. — Bryan Lowry, kansascity, "Former FBI agent, who sued the bureau, running for Kansas governor," 2 Apr. 2018 On the other hand, China could retaliate if a company is seen to take sides. — WSJ, "U.S.-China Trade Fight Shakes Global Economy, but Isn’t All Bad for Bystanders," 10 Jan. 2019 Villagers have retaliated, killing two insurgents and displaying the severed arm of one of them, according to local reports last month. — Christopher Torchia, The Seattle Times, "Opaque insurgency grinds on in gas-rich Mozambican region," 8 Jan. 2019 Israel retaliated, striking Hamas targets in Gaza, including a weapons storage site, a headquarters for military intelligence, and even a television station. — Alex Ward, Vox, "Israel and Gaza just saw their worst violence in years. It could get worse.," 14 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'retaliate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.