Synonyms of retaliation

retaliation

noun

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

• revenge
• retribution
• reprisal
• vengeance
• punishment
• payback
• compensation
• counterattack
• counteroffensive
• requital
• chastisement
• castigation
• counter
• correction
• wrath
• amends
• penalty
• redress
• indemnity
• reparation(s)
• restitution
• indemnification
• desert(s)
• discipline
• recompense
• recoupment
• nemesis
• remuneration
• quittance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• mercy
• grace
• leniency
• clemency
• forgiveness
• pardon
• remission
• lenity

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of retaliation

Denver has 160 lawyers The two lawsuits were filed by Jessica Calderon, a former Denver city employee, and Everett Martinez, a current Denver city employee, who separately allege wrongful treatment and retaliation by the city. — Brian Maass, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

She was then written up repeatedly in retaliation and subjected to internal investigations, while Durrah continued to work for the department, Tillman said in her complaint. — Amber Gaudet updated August 20, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026

The grievance system in immigration detention is designed to offer a safe channel to report violations of detention standards and seek redress, without fear of retaliation. — Vanessa Romo, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026

After Hartzog was shot, a person in her group fired in retaliation, striking a 34-year-old man, George Poag, in the stomach, Kenny said. — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026

Set in the aftermath of an unidentified conflict, the film follows Nina as she’s embroiled in a yearslong plot of subtle retaliation for her family’s horrific murder. — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Aug. 2026

Palal said the shooting was clear retaliation for the MGM Grand brawl, the latest incident in a simmering East Coast-West Coast feud pitting Knight’s record label against Sean Combs‘ Bad Boy Records in New York. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026

But Priscilla turns her gun on Whittaker instead, gunning him down with three fatal shots in retaliation for Cary’s death. — Max Gao, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026

Prosecutors believe Davis provided the gun and called for the shots as an act of retaliation after Shakur and Knight beat up Davis' nephew, also a Crips member, earlier that night. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026