retaliate

American  

[ri-tal-ee-eyt] / rɪˈtæl iˌeɪt /

verb (used without object)

retaliated, retaliating

1. to return like for like, especially evil for evil.

   to retaliate for an injury.

   Synonyms:

   reciprocate, repay, counter

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verb (used with object)

retaliated, retaliating

1. to requite or make return for (a wrong or injury) with the like.

retaliate British  

/ rɪˈtælɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. (intr) to take retributory action, esp by returning some injury or wrong in kind

2. (intr) to cast (accustations) back upon a person

3. rare (tr) to avenge (an injury, wrong, etc)

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Other Word Forms

• retaliation noun
• retaliative adjective
• retaliator noun
• retaliatory adjective
• unretaliated adjective
• unretaliating adjective
• unretaliative adjective

Etymology

Origin of retaliate

First recorded in 1605–15; from Late Latin retāliātus (past participle of retāliāre ), equivalent to re- re- + tāli(s) “such, of such a nature” + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

The 1980 Moscow Olympics were boycotted by the U.S. in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, only for the Soviet Union to retaliate by boycotting the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

From The Wall Street Journal

Several European nations last month sent troops to the island, which belongs to Denmark, and threatened to use their financial muscle to retaliate against the tariffs that Washington imposed in retribution.

From The Wall Street Journal

It paused the fees for one year in the fall after China retaliated by instituting fees on U.S.-linked vessels.

From The Wall Street Journal

US District Judge Richard Leon wrote in a scathing ruling that Hegseth had unconstitutionally retaliated against Kelly in seeking to demote the retired Navy captain.

From BBC

I retaliate by stealing one of her blankets, and she giggles.

From Literature

Related Words

• reciprocate