fights back
Refuses to yield
Fights back means to resist or retaliate when attacked, criticized, or threatened.
Someone who fights back refuses to accept mistreatment passively: She fought back against the accusations.
The phrase can describe physical defense, verbal pushback, or emotional resilience: He fought back tears as he read the letter.
- resistOppose or refuse compliance
- retaliateRespond to injury alike
- defendProtect from harm
- opposeAct against something
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
confront · counterattack · rebel · rises up · self-defense · defy · persevere · rally · combat · withstand · endurance · speak out · boycott · petition · parody · satire · fortify · courage
- takes onadopts, assumes, accepts, undertakes, shoulders
fights backsubmits
Yields to authority
surrenders · gives in · yields · capitulates · caves in
fights backcomplies
Follows a directive
obeys · goes along · conforms · falls in line · gives way
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