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 

ˌrē-

noun

retaliative

ri-ˈta-lē-ˌā-tiv 

adjective

retaliatory

ri-ˈtal-yə-ˌtȯr-ē 

-ˈta-lē-ə-

adjective

Synonyms

• avenge
• redress
• requite
• revenge
• venge [archaic]

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

Without this crucial carrier, the fat-uptake protein remains trapped in the T cell, leaving the T cell without enough energy to retaliate against the tumor. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

Harris, meanwhile, has doubled down on attacking Trump's fitness for office, mental acuity, and his pledges to retaliate against his political opponents if he's elected again. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024

Trade wars do the greatest damage to a country that is targeted and does not retaliate. —Tom Campbell, Orange County Register, 26 Oct. 2024

Washington — The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a bid by Michael Cohen to sue former President Donald Trump for allegedly retaliating against him by sending Cohen back to prison from home confinement over a tell-all book that criticized Trump. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024

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-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