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
Among VenApp users who support the government’s aims is a resident of a slum on the outskirts of Caracas who spoke anonymously, fearing government retaliation for speaking to a foreign journalist and retribution from neighbors who oppose Maduro.
—
Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
The lawsuit links the LinkedIn post to a broader pattern of alleged retaliation against Kevin Tang, Aurinia’s board chair and head of Tang Capital Partners.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
For Washington, admitting even the possibility of a hostile interference event risks public pressure for retaliation or escalation before evidence exists.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025
Best practices for tariffs include setting clear targets using accessible language, having independent analysts conduct reviews before and after a tariff is put in place, and having diplomacy baked into a broader trade-security strategy that reports retaliation risks.
—Bedassa Tadesse, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2025
Two nights later, Afghan forces fired at Pakistan's border posts in retaliation, leading to back-and-forth gunfire along the border.
—NPR, 31 Oct. 2025
The lawsuit claims the university pressured the adviser to control the paper's content and fired him in retaliation.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 30 Oct. 2025
Prop 50 came in retaliation to Texas’ mid-decade redistricting, where Republican-friendly maps passed into law this summer could net the GOP five House seats.
—Emily Chang, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2025
Some in Seoul’s government worry that stronger ties to Trump could invite Chinese retaliation or alienate progressive voters.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Stefano Pozzebon, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
The lawsuit links the LinkedIn post to a broader pattern of alleged retaliation against Kevin Tang, Aurinia’s board chair and head of Tang Capital Partners.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
For Washington, admitting even the possibility of a hostile interference event risks public pressure for retaliation or escalation before evidence exists.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025
Best practices for tariffs include setting clear targets using accessible language, having independent analysts conduct reviews before and after a tariff is put in place, and having diplomacy baked into a broader trade-security strategy that reports retaliation risks.
—Bedassa Tadesse, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2025
Two nights later, Afghan forces fired at Pakistan's border posts in retaliation, leading to back-and-forth gunfire along the border.
—NPR, 31 Oct. 2025
The lawsuit claims the university pressured the adviser to control the paper's content and fired him in retaliation.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 30 Oct. 2025
Prop 50 came in retaliation to Texas’ mid-decade redistricting, where Republican-friendly maps passed into law this summer could net the GOP five House seats.
—Emily Chang, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2025
Some in Seoul’s government worry that stronger ties to Trump could invite Chinese retaliation or alienate progressive voters.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retaliation
Noun
-
Monday's game certainly serves as a bit of a revenge game for the Packers.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Sometimes, revenge is a dish best served by Deadline.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Among VenApp users who support the government’s aims is a resident of a slum on the outskirts of Caracas who spoke anonymously, fearing government retaliation for speaking to a foreign journalist and retribution from neighbors who oppose Maduro.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Details on how the administration has subverted health spending have received little attention because many changes have been made quietly -- and people who rely on federal funds fear retribution.—
Amy Maxmen,
ABC News,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Retaliation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retaliation. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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