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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of retaliation
In the short term, there is retaliation.
—
Angélica Durán-Martínez, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2026
According to The Hill, Murat has said her mother was detained in retaliation for her aunt's activism against China's treatment of Uyghurs.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
The operation triggered violent retaliation across 20 Mexican states, with cartel members burning vehicles and blocking roads in revenge attacks.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
In retaliation, gangsters took to the streets to light vehicles and businesses on fire, carjack cars and buses, and cause mayhem across multiple states.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 23 Feb. 2026
How would Republicans feel like that -- feel about this if this is possibly sustained or if there are attacks, if there's retaliation and people are injured?
—ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026
Officials said the violence was carried out in retaliation for the killing of a powerful cartel leader by Mexican military forces.
—Da Lin, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
The actual effects might have been even larger than economists’ estimates, as the estimates do not fully consider the effects of retaliation by trading partners and reduction in consumer choice.
—Ilya Somin, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026
Olivia, Bailey’s mother, was really Kate Smith, and her father was Nicholas Bell (David Morse), famous mob lawyer for The Syndicate, or The Organization, a group notorious for crimes and brutal retaliation against their enemies.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2026
Angélica Durán-Martínez, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2026
According to The Hill, Murat has said her mother was detained in retaliation for her aunt's activism against China's treatment of Uyghurs.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
The operation triggered violent retaliation across 20 Mexican states, with cartel members burning vehicles and blocking roads in revenge attacks.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
In retaliation, gangsters took to the streets to light vehicles and businesses on fire, carjack cars and buses, and cause mayhem across multiple states.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 23 Feb. 2026
How would Republicans feel like that -- feel about this if this is possibly sustained or if there are attacks, if there's retaliation and people are injured?
—ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026
Officials said the violence was carried out in retaliation for the killing of a powerful cartel leader by Mexican military forces.
—Da Lin, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2026
The actual effects might have been even larger than economists’ estimates, as the estimates do not fully consider the effects of retaliation by trading partners and reduction in consumer choice.
—Ilya Somin, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026
Olivia, Bailey’s mother, was really Kate Smith, and her father was Nicholas Bell (David Morse), famous mob lawyer for The Syndicate, or The Organization, a group notorious for crimes and brutal retaliation against their enemies.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retaliation
Noun
-
Incensed, Oseguera plotted revenge in 2009 and 2010 with others who were unhappy with Milenio’s new leadership and spearheaded a deadly coup.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The original film tells a captivating and fragmented story of Mexico City’s underbelly, exploring the harsh realities of the underworld through three interlocking narratives of hope, betrayal, and revenge.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Trump remains unpredictable, though, and eager to seek retribution.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Captain Auston Matthews made the pass to Guentzel, and Zach Werenski — who accidentally knocked the puck into his own net on Denmark’s first goal credited to Nick Olesen — had the secondary assist to get some retribution.—
Stephen Whyno,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Retaliation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retaliation. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
