retaliation

American  

[ri-tal-ee-ey-shuhn] / rɪˌtæl iˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of retaliating; return of like for like; reprisal.

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Other Word Forms

• counterretaliation
  noun
• nonretaliation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of retaliation

First recorded in 1575–85; retaliate + -ion

Explanation

Retaliation is an act of revenge. Before you initiate retaliation on someone who has wronged you, consider whether he or she might have a ninja alter ego and a set of nunchucks stashed away. The noun retaliation stems from the Latin retaliare, meaning “pay back in kind.” Notice the word kind in that definition. Retaliation used to have both good and evil connotations. Now, though, it’s important to read that kind as synonymous with type or sort because retaliation has since lost its positive sense. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.”

Example Sentences

At the time, Lively’s attorneys argued that Baldoni’s claims amounted to “weaponizing defamation lawsuits” against someone who had spoken publicly about harassment and retaliation.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

Last July, the EU had laid the groundwork for possible retaliation if talks with Washington fell through -- preparing a list of US goods that could be targeted.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

The firm is now suing the government over the alleged retaliation it faced after refusing to accept "any lawful use" language in its own contract.

From BBC • May 1, 2026

Stryker posted higher profit and sales in the first quarter, during which it was hit by a cyberattack that reportedly was in retaliation to the war in Iran.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Morale was low because Cluny had ordered no retaliation until after midday.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

Related Words

• punishment
• reprisal
• retribution
• revenge