retaliate
verb
re·tal·i·ate
ri-ˈta-lē-ˌāt 
retaliated; retaliating
: to return like for like
especially
: to get revenge
: to repay in kind
retaliate an injury
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
The former school athletic director has been charged with disrupting school activities, theft, retaliating against a witness, and stalking, McCollough said.
—
Sean Neumann, Peoplemag, 25 Apr. 2024
Israel retaliated for the swarm of more than 300 drones and missiles with a limited strike on Iran last Friday.
—USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
Soon afterward, Arab militias began a series of attacks on the Jewish population, and Zionist groups retaliated with actions against Arab communities.
—Tom Segev, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
The attack prompted Iran to respond with its first-ever direct attack on Israeli soil last weekend, and then Israel to retaliate in Iran on Friday.
—Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
If Israel was seen to be gloating about the strike, Iran’s government would likely face intense public pressure to retaliate.
—NBC News, 19 Apr. 2024
The bill does prevent property owners from increasing rent to retaliate against a tenant or otherwise get around the law’s protections.
—Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2024
Her husband, Jon, has suggested that, rather than retaliate against Iran for its April 13 attack, Israel use it as leverage to release the hostages.
—Karl Vick, TIME, 18 Apr. 2024
Ronen Zvulun/Reuters Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently pondering if and how to retaliate for Iran's missile and drone attack on Israel.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 2024
Sean Neumann, Peoplemag, 25 Apr. 2024
Israel retaliated for the swarm of more than 300 drones and missiles with a limited strike on Iran last Friday.
—USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
Soon afterward, Arab militias began a series of attacks on the Jewish population, and Zionist groups retaliated with actions against Arab communities.
—Tom Segev, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
The attack prompted Iran to respond with its first-ever direct attack on Israeli soil last weekend, and then Israel to retaliate in Iran on Friday.
—Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024
If Israel was seen to be gloating about the strike, Iran’s government would likely face intense public pressure to retaliate.
—NBC News, 19 Apr. 2024
The bill does prevent property owners from increasing rent to retaliate against a tenant or otherwise get around the law’s protections.
—Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2024
Her husband, Jon, has suggested that, rather than retaliate against Iran for its April 13 attack, Israel use it as leverage to release the hostages.
—Karl Vick, TIME, 18 Apr. 2024
Ronen Zvulun/Reuters Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is currently pondering if and how to retaliate for Iran's missile and drone attack on Israel.
—Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near retaliate
Cite this Entry
“Retaliate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retaliate. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
retaliate
verb
re·tal·i·ate
ri-ˈtal-ē-ˌāt
retaliated; retaliating
: to return (as an injury) in kind : get revenge
Legal Definition
retaliate
intransitive verb
re·tal·i·ate
ri-ˈta-lē-ˌāt
retaliated; retaliating
: to act in revenge
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share