RETALIATION Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

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

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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 Liman’s decision dropped Lively’s claims of harassment, defamation and conspiracy, meaning the trial will now center on alleged breach of contract and retaliation by Wayfarer and aiding and abetting retaliation by the PR firm working for Baldoni. —

Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 20 Apr. 2026 Iran threatened retaliation after the US seized one of its cargo ships, denting hopes of an imminent peace deal. —

Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 20 Apr. 2026 Another detainee’s relative, who requested to speak anonymously citing fears of retaliation, also said detainees affected by the April 2 pepper spraying were left to sit in it for two hours. —

Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2026 Jurors had unanimously ruled in favor of Ramirez and found the city liable for retaliation related to her whistleblower complaints. —

Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 18 Apr. 2026 Hezbollah issued a statement Friday lauding its attacks on Israel during the war, claiming thousands of strikes on Israeli positions and settlements in retaliation for Israel's attacks on Lebanese territory. —

CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026 Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday arrested a plaintiff involved in a class action lawsuit challenging raids in Los Angeles, prompting concerns from lawyers of retaliation and calls for his release. —

Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026 Terry Grimmett alleges racial discrimination, retaliation and a hostile work environment. —

Ben Wheeler april 16, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026 Iran, meanwhile, has threatened to shut down traffic in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea in retaliation. —

Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for retaliation

Noun

The attack occurred moments before she was slated to walk down the aisle to wed her childhood sweetheart — the climax of a revenge attack amid an ongoing feud.

— Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026
As previously announced, Michelle Mao will play Yara and Kyriana Kratter will play Lev, siblings whose paths cross with Abby at a pivotal moment, as Ellie begins her revenge rampage in Seattle.

— Clayton Davis, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026