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 temporary suspension was welcome, but now the tariffs are back and Canada is retaliating with tariffs on over $30 billion worth of U.S. goods such as orange juice, motorcycles, and cosmetics.
—
Adam A. Millsap, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
In seeking a means to retaliate against the wealthiest man alive, their attention has been drawn to Tesla, in which Musk holds an approximately 13-percent stake that accounts for a substantial share of his fortune.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2025
Beijing has already retaliated, slapping tariffs on a wide range of goods, including agricultural products (in other words, Midwestern farmers who voted for Trump), as has, more modestly, Canada.
—The Editors, National Review, 7 Mar. 2025
On Tuesday, Ontario premier Doug Ford retaliated against the Trump administration’s tariffs by ordering all U.S.-made alcohol products to be taken off shelves throughout the province, Global News reported.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for retaliate
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Adam A. Millsap, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
In seeking a means to retaliate against the wealthiest man alive, their attention has been drawn to Tesla, in which Musk holds an approximately 13-percent stake that accounts for a substantial share of his fortune.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2025
Beijing has already retaliated, slapping tariffs on a wide range of goods, including agricultural products (in other words, Midwestern farmers who voted for Trump), as has, more modestly, Canada.
—The Editors, National Review, 7 Mar. 2025
On Tuesday, Ontario premier Doug Ford retaliated against the Trump administration’s tariffs by ordering all U.S.-made alcohol products to be taken off shelves throughout the province, Global News reported.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 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 12 Mar. 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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