retaliate

verb
UK: /rɪˈtælieɪt/
US: /rɪˈtælieɪt/

  1. To do something bad to someone because they have done something bad to you

    1. If someone hits you, don't retaliate.
    2. The company retaliated against him for disclosing their secrets.

  2. To take revenge; to pay back in kind for a wrong or injury.

    1. They will retaliate if we attack.
    2. The terrorists retaliated for the army's attack by kidnapping tourists.

Synonyms

revenge requite avenge retort reciprocate get back at
retaliate intransitive-verb

  1. To respond to an attack, insult, or injury with a similar action.

    1. We must not retaliate with violence.
    2. The government may retaliate with economic sanctions against the country.
retaliate transitive-verb

  1. To inflict revenge or punishment; to return like for like, especially evil for evil.

    1. He sought to retaliate the insult.
    2. The general planned to retaliate the enemy's advance with a counterattack.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "retaliate" in English means: To do something bad to someone because they have done something bad to you, To take revenge; to pay back in kind for a wrong or injury..

The phonetic transcription of "retaliate" is /rɪˈtælieɪt/ in British English and /rɪˈtælieɪt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "retaliate": revenge, requite, avenge, retort, reciprocate, get back at.

Example usage of "retaliate": "If someone hits you, don't retaliate.". More examples on the page.