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
But Russian leaders have continued to launch missile and drone strikes on Ukraine, which retaliates in kind on strategic targets.
—
Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Import Value: Over $11 billion in 2024 Notably, the E.U. may retaliate by taxing American alcohol exports, which could hurt U.S. distilleries.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
The bank says that if the U.S. continues to impose 30% tariffs and the EU retaliates, the ECB may be forced to lower rates to 1% before the first quarter of 2026.
—CNBC, 15 July 2025
Pakistan retaliated by supporting separatist Sikh militants in Punjab in the 1980s.
—Sam Dalrymple, Time, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for retaliate
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Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Import Value: Over $11 billion in 2024 Notably, the E.U. may retaliate by taxing American alcohol exports, which could hurt U.S. distilleries.
—Amanda Castro
hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
The bank says that if the U.S. continues to impose 30% tariffs and the EU retaliates, the ECB may be forced to lower rates to 1% before the first quarter of 2026.
—CNBC, 15 July 2025
Pakistan retaliated by supporting separatist Sikh militants in Punjab in the 1980s.
—Sam Dalrymple, Time, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for retaliate
Cite this Entry
“Retaliate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retaliate. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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
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