retaliate
verb
re·tal·i·ate ri-ˈta-lē-ˌāt 
retaliated; retaliating
intransitive verb
: to return like for like
especially : to get revenge
transitive verb
: to repay in kind
retaliate an injury
retaliation
ri-ˌta-lē-ˈā-shən
noun ˌrē-
retaliative
ri-ˈta-lē-ˌā-tiv
adjective retaliatory
ri-ˈtal-yə-ˌtȯr-ē
adjective -ˈta-lē-ə-
Synonyms
- avenge
- redress
- requite
- revenge
- venge [archaic]
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 They were done in order to maintain the gang's control and to retaliate against rival gangs, prosecutors said. 
Louis Casiano, Fox News, 25 Aug. 2022 Prosecutors could subpoena companies, requesting the disclosure of medical information, and whistleblowers could leak protected health information or retaliate against employees who seek abortions. Paige Mcglauflin, Fortune, 27 July 2022 Putin has long threatened to retaliate against the companies leaving Russia in protest of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Robert Hart, Forbes, 1 July 2022 But many of them have come to see the threat of a defamation suit — a tactic often used by the powerful to retaliate against and mute unwelcome criticism — as an essential tool in the battle against disinformation. New York Times, 13 Mar. 2022 Poland and Hungary have threatened to retaliate by stalling other EU decisions that require unanimity, including on climate and energy, as well as foreign policy. Raf Casert, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Feb. 2022 China could retaliate against the U.S. and Taiwan in other ways. Yvonne Lau, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2022 Fears have spiked that Moscow could shut off gas supplies to retaliate for tough sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine, delivering the bloc a massive shock. Julia Horowitz, CNN, 20 July 2022 China had vowed to retaliate if Pelosi visited Taiwan, with speculation centering on military exercises and possible incursions by Chinese planes and ships into areas under Taiwanese control. Travis Andersen, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Aug. 2022 See More
Louis Casiano, Fox News, 25 Aug. 2022 Prosecutors could subpoena companies, requesting the disclosure of medical information, and whistleblowers could leak protected health information or retaliate against employees who seek abortions. Paige Mcglauflin, Fortune, 27 July 2022 Putin has long threatened to retaliate against the companies leaving Russia in protest of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Robert Hart, Forbes, 1 July 2022 But many of them have come to see the threat of a defamation suit — a tactic often used by the powerful to retaliate against and mute unwelcome criticism — as an essential tool in the battle against disinformation. New York Times, 13 Mar. 2022 Poland and Hungary have threatened to retaliate by stalling other EU decisions that require unanimity, including on climate and energy, as well as foreign policy. Raf Casert, The Christian Science Monitor, 16 Feb. 2022 China could retaliate against the U.S. and Taiwan in other ways. Yvonne Lau, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2022 Fears have spiked that Moscow could shut off gas supplies to retaliate for tough sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine, delivering the bloc a massive shock. Julia Horowitz, CNN, 20 July 2022 China had vowed to retaliate if Pelosi visited Taiwan, with speculation centering on military exercises and possible incursions by Chinese planes and ships into areas under Taiwanese control. Travis Andersen, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Aug. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
retaliate
verb
re·tal·i·ate ri-ˈta-lē-ˌāt
retaliated; retaliating
: to get revenge by returning like for like
Legal Definition
retaliate
intransitive verb
re·tal·i·ate ri-ˈta-lē-ˌāt
retaliated; retaliating
: to act in revenge
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
Relevance
- revenge
- retribution
- reprisal
- vengeance
- punishment
- payback
- compensation
- counterattack
- counteroffensive
- chastisement
- castigation
- requital
- counter
- wrath
- correction
- penalty
- redress
- amends
- indemnity
- restitution
- reparation(s)
- recompense
- indemnification
- discipline
- desert(s)
- recoupment
- nemesis
- remuneration
- quittance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- leniency
- mercy
- clemency
- grace
- forgiveness
- pardon
- lenity
- remission