retaliate
verb
re·tal·i·ate
ri-ˈta-lē-ˌāt 
retaliated; retaliating
: to return like for like
especially
: to get revenge
: to repay in kind
retaliate an injury
Examples of retaliate in a Sentence
After the company announced plans to reduce benefits, the union threatened to retaliate by calling for a strike.
retaliated his neighbor's malicious destruction of his flower garden by cutting down the man's prize apple tree
Recent Examples on the Web
This leads to an instinct to defend oneself with counter-accusations or blame; in other words, to retaliate with unkindness.
—
Anna Shields, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Today, Russian did indeed retaliate with an ICBM, striking Dnipro, Ukraine's fourth largest city.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
The 400-plus page report found Corpus, the county’s first Latina sheriff, repeatedly retaliated against officers and employees, used racist and homophobic slurs, and had an inappropriate personal relationship with her chief of staff, Victor Aenlle.
—Ethan Varian, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
Johnson allegedly retaliated after officers asked about his well-being, according to Bryant.
—Olivia Rose, The Arizona Republic, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for retaliate 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Anna Shields, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Today, Russian did indeed retaliate with an ICBM, striking Dnipro, Ukraine's fourth largest city.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024
The 400-plus page report found Corpus, the county’s first Latina sheriff, repeatedly retaliated against officers and employees, used racist and homophobic slurs, and had an inappropriate personal relationship with her chief of staff, Victor Aenlle.
—Ethan Varian, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
Johnson allegedly retaliated after officers asked about his well-being, according to Bryant.
—Olivia Rose, The Arizona Republic, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for retaliate
Dictionary Entries Near retaliate
Cite this Entry
“Retaliate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retaliate. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
retaliate
verb
re·tal·i·ate
ri-ˈtal-ē-ˌāt
retaliated; retaliating
: to return (as an injury) in kind : get revenge
Legal Definition
retaliate
intransitive verb
re·tal·i·ate
ri-ˈta-lē-ˌāt
retaliated; retaliating
: to act in revenge
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share