retaliatory

American  

[ri-tal-ee-uh-tawr-ee] / rɪˈtæl i əˌtɔr i /

Rarely retaliative

adjective

1. done in order to take revenge; returning evil for evil.

   Hate crimes are especially likely to inflict emotional harm and provoke retaliatory violence.

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Other Word Forms

• unretaliative
  adjective
• unretaliatory
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of retaliatory

retaliat(e) ( def. ) + -ory ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

A retaliatory act is one that attempts to get even with someone or to punish them for some wrongdoing. When you shove your brother because he shoved you, that's retaliatory. Sometimes, wars are avoided because one country or group hesitates to attack another out of fear of a retaliatory strike. In fact, most wars consist of a long series of retaliatory actions — a bomb dropped to pay the enemy back for the bomb they dropped, and so on. Retaliatory comes from the verb retaliate, and the Latin root retaliare, "pay back in kind."

Example Sentences

The federal district court found for Media Matters, saying this was clearly a retaliatory measure.

From Slate • May 18, 2026

Neugebauer’s legal team argues his firing was retaliatory because he and others raised governance concerns to the board.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026

Of note, China has been formalizing a retaliatory option.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

Authorities in Chad and Nigeria have not commented, but on Sunday Chad's presidency said it had carried out retaliatory "intensive air strikes" on Boko Haram strongholds.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

In order to forestall outbreaks of retaliatory violence, we arranged a week-long series of mass rallies and demonstrations throughout the country.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• cruel
• malicious
• merciless
• resentful
• ruthless
• spiteful
• unforgiving
• vengeful