as in revenge
the act or an instance of responding to an injury with an injury
police believe that the murder was in retaliation for an earlier gangland execution
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Recent Examples of retaliation
The Chinese government reacted by telling Chinese citizens not to travel to Japan, threatening economic retaliation, and pulling the plug on meetings that were long planned, putting a pretty deep freeze on China-Japan relations.
—
Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
And second, while owner Jeff Bezos may have protected his space company from presidential retaliation, there’s no sign the Post won any benefits from the president or his movement.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Hayden asked that his client, who has applied for asylum in the US, not be identified for fear of retaliation.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
Agricultural tariffs have repeatedly triggered retaliation that harms American farmers more than foreign competitors.
—Carol L. Harris, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
These are welcome changes, but the NTSB found that frontline air traffic controllers feared retaliation from FAA supervisors for raising safety concerns before the collision.
—Marc Scribner, Oc Register, 8 Feb. 2026
The homicides’ motive is nebulous, prosecutor Vassar suggested to the jury, and may be connected to a school beef, retaliation or a diss track.
—Emerson Clarridge
updated February 6, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Feb. 2026
Timothy Busfield allegations The actor, who is accused of inappropriate physical contact with two child actors, has maintained his innocence and argued that the allegations are an act of retaliation after the boys were recast on the show.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
Nivea asked that her last name not be used over concerns of retaliation.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026
Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
And second, while owner Jeff Bezos may have protected his space company from presidential retaliation, there’s no sign the Post won any benefits from the president or his movement.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Hayden asked that his client, who has applied for asylum in the US, not be identified for fear of retaliation.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026
Agricultural tariffs have repeatedly triggered retaliation that harms American farmers more than foreign competitors.
—Carol L. Harris, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
These are welcome changes, but the NTSB found that frontline air traffic controllers feared retaliation from FAA supervisors for raising safety concerns before the collision.
—Marc Scribner, Oc Register, 8 Feb. 2026
The homicides’ motive is nebulous, prosecutor Vassar suggested to the jury, and may be connected to a school beef, retaliation or a diss track.
—Emerson Clarridge
updated February 6, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Feb. 2026
Timothy Busfield allegations The actor, who is accused of inappropriate physical contact with two child actors, has maintained his innocence and argued that the allegations are an act of retaliation after the boys were recast on the show.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
Nivea asked that her last name not be used over concerns of retaliation.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retaliation
Noun
-
Seahawks fans and the players absolutely looking for revenge.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The Philadelphia Eagles dominated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 last year to exact revenge for a 38-35 loss in Super Bowl LVII.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That threat, and Chinese retribution that followed — warnings to Chinese tourists to avoid Japan, a ban on Japanese seafood imports, moves to choke off Chinese rare earth exports — triggered a nationalist rally-around-the-flag surge.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The win perhaps felt like retribution for the last Super Bowl between these teams.—
Tim Rohan,
NBC news,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retaliation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retaliation. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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