retaliate
to return like for like, especially evil for evil: to retaliate for an injury.
to requite or make return for (a wrong or injury) with the like.
Origin of retaliate
1Other words for retaliate
Other words from retaliate
- re·tal·i·a·tive, re·tal·i·a·to·ry [ri-tal-ee-uh-tawr-ee,], /rɪˈtæl i əˌtɔr i,/, adjective
- re·tal·i·a·tor, noun
- un·re·tal·i·at·ed, adjective
- un·re·tal·i·at·ing, adjective
- un·re·tal·i·a·tive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use retaliate in a sentence
Believing he was retaliating for the hit against Clay, Tig (Kim Coates) killed the daughter of black gang leader Damon Pope.
‘Homeland,’ ‘Revenge,’ ‘The Good Wife,’ ‘Sons of Anarchy’ and More: Where We Left Off | Jace Lacob, Maria Elena Fernandez | September 10, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTTurner is retaliating against her state's cadre of male pols who push what are essentially abortion and contraception bans.
State Pols Outraged by Anti-Abortion Laws Push Onerous Restrictions on Viagra | Allison Yarrow | March 14, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd the Court has instructed you that if these men went up there with the purpose of retaliating, they are guilty.
The Everett massacre | Walker C. SmithOnly her respect for domestic discipline, she said, prevented her retaliating with "Old Pondo" on the housemaid's cupboard.
Tono Bungay | H. G. WellsThe French general had seized the opportunity of retaliating his ill fortune upon the allied troops.
"Old —— has probably got some job on—or he may be merely retaliating," he replied.
Servants of the Guns | Jeffery E. JefferyThis retaliating spirit appeared also among the men, of a remarkable instance of which several of us were witnesses.
An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Vol. 1 | David Collins
British Dictionary definitions for retaliate
/ (rɪˈtælɪˌeɪt) /
(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)
Origin of retaliate
1Derived forms of retaliate
- retaliation, noun
- retaliative or retaliatory, adjective
- retaliator, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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