strike back

phrasal verb

struck back; struck back also stricken back; striking back; strikes back

: to try to hurt someone who has hurt one or treated one badly

When he called her lazy, she immediately struck back by calling him fat.

—often + at

He angrily struck back at his critics.

Examples of strike back in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Panthers struck back with about 7:30 left in the third period. —Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2025

The same team that hadn’t beaten Boston all season pulled off two upsets to take a 2-0 lead, only to be humbled on their home floor as the reigning champs struck back at Madison Square Garden. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 11 May 2025

Also, Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership is unpopular at home; an attack would give Islamabad an additional incentive to strike back, and rally citizens around the flag. —Michael Kugelman, Time, 3 May 2025

Three decades later, Azerbaijan—now an oil-rich autocracy with a powerful army—struck back. —Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025

Rhymes for strike back

• almanac
• camelback
• cardiac
• carryback
• cluniac
• diamondback
• lumberjack
• maniac
• paperback
• piggyback
• quarterback
• saddleback