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
Venezuela retaliated by refusing deportation flights from the United States and Mexico.
—
Tirana Hassan, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
Israel retaliated and attacked Iran on October 25 and carried out airstrikes in the country's capital.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
This would hit more than $3 trillion in U.S. imports, and probably cause multiple trade wars, as other countries retaliate with tariffs of their own.
—New York Times, 3 Nov. 2024
Israel discreetly retaliated to the April 13-14 attack less than a week later, launching a lone strike against Iran’s central Isfahan region.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for retaliate 
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Tirana Hassan, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
Israel retaliated and attacked Iran on October 25 and carried out airstrikes in the country's capital.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
This would hit more than $3 trillion in U.S. imports, and probably cause multiple trade wars, as other countries retaliate with tariffs of their own.
—New York Times, 3 Nov. 2024
Israel discreetly retaliated to the April 13-14 attack less than a week later, launching a lone strike against Iran’s central Isfahan region.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes, 1 Nov. 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 26 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
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