hit back
phrasal verb
hit back; hitting back; hits back
informal
: to attack or criticize someone after being attacked or criticized by them
Weary of her rival's accusations, the candidate hit back with an aggressive ad campaign.
The team hit back with a touchdown of their own.
—often + atThe Senator hit back at his critics.
Examples of hit back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Meta has hit back about being targeted in Apple’s complaint and says the iPhone maker is being anticompetitive.
—
Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 19 Dec. 2024
Durbin hit back by asking about the media, to which Raju replied that journalists aren't paid by public funds.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
Soulja Boy is hitting back at Plies for filing a copyright lawsuit against him.
—Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 19 Nov. 2024
As retaliation, Beijing hit back by imposing fresh curbs on exports of germanium and gallium and other materials elements essential for making semiconductors and other high tech equipment.
—Wayne Chang, CNN, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hit back 
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Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 19 Dec. 2024
Durbin hit back by asking about the media, to which Raju replied that journalists aren't paid by public funds.
—Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
Soulja Boy is hitting back at Plies for filing a copyright lawsuit against him.
—Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 19 Nov. 2024
As retaliation, Beijing hit back by imposing fresh curbs on exports of germanium and gallium and other materials elements essential for making semiconductors and other high tech equipment.
—Wayne Chang, CNN, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hit back
Dictionary Entries Near hit back
Cite this Entry
“Hit back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hit%20back. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.
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