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

Explanation

To retaliate means to get back at someone, usually through a counterattack. “Ned got hit with a cream pie, then he retaliated by throwing a bucket of Jell-O at his attackers.” When you see the prefix re in a word, it usually means back. To return, remember, regurgitate (yuck) — all of these verbs relate to doing something back. At the beginning of retaliate it means back, and the taliate means to pay, so what you’re talking about here is payback. If you’re doing something terrible to someone just because you want to, that’s doesn’t mean to retaliate. But, if you feel they’ve done something bad to you, and you’re just getting them back? That’s when you retaliate.

Example Sentences

Saudi Arabia is pressing the U.S. to end its Strait of Hormuz blockade, fearing Iran could retaliate by disrupting the Bab al-Mandeb shipping route.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

I have waited before asking him for the money because I don’t want him to retaliate with a bad review.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 20, 2026

The government quickly put in place a new supreme leader, while its decentralised "mosaic defence" allowed the military to retaliate without losing much of a step.

From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026

During testimony last week, witnesses alleged the company had threatened to retaliate against concert venues if they did not use Ticketmaster's services.

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026

Zac’s friends rushed to help him, but Marcus didn’t even wait to see if Zac was going to retaliate before he stormed out of the cafeteria.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

Related Words

• reciprocate