retaliate
[ ri-tal-ee-eyt ]
/ rɪˈtæl iˌeɪt /
verb (used without object), re·tal·i·at·ed, re·tal·i·at·ing.
to return like for like, especially evil for evil: to retaliate for an injury.
verb (used with object), re·tal·i·at·ed, re·tal·i·at·ing.
to requite or make return for (a wrong or injury) with the like.
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Origin of retaliate
OTHER WORDS FROM retaliate
Words nearby retaliate
retainer, retainership, retaining ring, retaining wall, retake, retaliate, retaliation, retard, retardant, retardate, retardation
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for retaliative
The most ancient punishment in English law was retaliative—membrum pro membro, but ultimately at common law fine and imprisonment.
The idea of retaliative measures was a product of the brain of Jeff Davis.
Company G|A. R. (Albert Rowe) Barlow
British Dictionary definitions for retaliative
retaliate
/ (rɪˈtælɪˌeɪt) /
verb
(intr) to take retributory action, esp by returning some injury or wrong in kind
(intr) to cast (accustations) back upon a person
(tr) rare to avenge (an injury, wrong, etc)
Derived forms of retaliate
retaliation, nounretaliative or retaliatory, adjectiveretaliator, nounWord Origin for retaliate
C17: from Late Latin retāliāre, from Latin re- + tālis of such kind
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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