as in to avenge
to punish in kind the wrongdoer responsible for retaliated his neighbor's malicious destruction of his flower garden by cutting down the man's prize apple tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb retaliate contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of retaliate are reciprocate, requite, and return. While all these words mean "to give back usually in kind or in quantity," retaliate usually implies a paying back of injury in exact kind, often vengefully.

the enemy retaliated by executing their prisoners

When is reciprocate a more appropriate choice than retaliate?

While in some cases nearly identical to retaliate, reciprocate implies a mutual or equivalent exchange or a paying back of what one has received.

reciprocated their hospitality by inviting them for a visit

Where would requite be a reasonable alternative to retaliate?

While the synonyms requite and retaliate are close in meaning, requite implies a paying back according to one's preference and often not equivalently.

requited her love with cold indifference

When could return be used to replace retaliate?

The words return and retaliate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, return implies a paying or giving back.

returned their call
return good for evil

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of retaliate China was quick to retaliate Tuesday, announcing broad new tariffs on U.S. agricultural, dairy and meat products. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2025 Jenner, meanwhile, retaliated by threatening Damon at Molly’s and getting the rest of the firehouse to go against him, making staying at 20 difficult for Damon. Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 5 Mar. 2025 The Associated Press: China retaliated against U.S. tariffs Tuesday with up to 15 percent on a wide array of U.S. farm exports. Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 5 Mar. 2025 The severing of several undersea cables in the Baltic Sea in recent months has raised concerns that Russia is using the moves to retaliate against NATO countries that have supported Ukraine. Johanna Lemola, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for retaliate

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Cite this Entry

“Retaliate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retaliate. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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