retaliate

verb

re·​tal·​i·​ate ri-ˈta-lē-ˌāt 

retaliated; retaliating

intransitive verb

: to return like for like

especially : to get revenge

After the company reduced benefits, the union went on strike to retaliate.

transitive verb

: to repay in kind

retaliate an injury

retaliation

ri-ˌta-lē-ˈā-shən 

ˌrē-

noun

retaliative

ri-ˈta-lē-ˌā-tiv 

adjective

retaliatory

ri-ˈtal-yə-ˌtȯr-ē 

-ˈta-lē-ə-

adjective

Synonyms of retaliate

• avenge

Choose the Right Synonym for retaliate

reciprocate, retaliate, requite, return mean to give back usually in kind or in quantity.

reciprocate implies a mutual or equivalent exchange or a paying back of what one has received.

reciprocated their hospitality by inviting them for a visit

retaliate usually implies a paying back of injury in exact kind, often vengefully.

the enemy retaliated by executing their prisoners

requite implies a paying back according to one's preference and often not equivalently.

requited her love with cold indifference

return implies a paying or giving back.

returned their call

return good for evil

Examples of retaliate in a Sentence

After the company announced plans to reduce benefits, the union threatened to retaliate by calling for a strike.

retaliated his neighbor's malicious destruction of his flower garden by cutting down the man's prize apple tree

Recent Examples on the Web

Within minutes of the attack, Tehran retaliated under the false claim that strikes had come from Gulf countries. —Nawaf M. Al-Thani, semafor.com, 20 Apr. 2026

Iran has vowed to retaliate for the ship's seizure. —Will Clark, NBC news, 20 Apr. 2026

It simply cannot be used to threaten, or harm, or retaliate. —Andrew Lapin, Sun Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026

Iran’s military is threatening to retaliate after that incident. —Cate Martel, The Hill, 20 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin retaliatus, past participle of retaliare, from Latin re- + talio legal retaliation

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for retaliate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

retaliate

verb

re·​tal·​i·​ate ri-ˈtal-ē-ˌāt 

retaliated; retaliating

: to return (as an injury) in kind : get revenge

retaliation

-ˌtal-ē-ˈā-shən 

noun

retaliatory

-ˈtal-yə-ˌtōr-ē 

-ˌtȯr-

adjective

Legal Definition

retaliate

intransitive verb

re·​tal·​i·​ate ri-ˈta-lē-ˌāt 

retaliated; retaliating

: to act in revenge

retaliation

-ˌta-lē-ˈā-shən 

noun

retaliative

-ˈta-lē-ˌā-tiv 

adjective

retaliatory

-ˈtal-yə-ˌtōr-ē 

adjective