retaliate
Return the blow
To retaliate is to strike back after being harmed or provoked—to return injury for injury.
The word implies responding in kind: When she spread rumors about him, he retaliated by leaking her emails.
Retaliation often escalates conflicts rather than resolving them.
The noun is retaliation; the adjective retaliatory.
Punishing a wrongdoer
- avengePunish on behalf of
- vengeanceRetaliation for injury
- reprisalPunitive action in return
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
payback · requital · comeuppance · tit-for-tat · vindication · nemesis · avenger · vengeful
Answer a stimulus
- respondGive a reply
- backlashStrong negative reaction
- blowbackUnintended negative consequences
- comebackRecovery after decline
kickback · rebound · recoil · repercussion · feedback · answer · reply · retort
Penalize for wrongdoing
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- penalizeImpose a disadvantage for wrongdoing
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- chastiseReprimand severely for wrongdoing
castigate · condemn · sentence · justice · redress · recompense · reparation · amends
Retaliatory military action
- counterattackOffensive response to aggression
- counterblowRetaliatory strike
- countermeasureDefense against a threat
- counteroffensiveRetaliatory military operation
repulse · rebuff · parry · riposte · counterpunch
Progressive increase in intensity
- feudBitter ongoing rivalry
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- aggressionHostile or attacking behavior
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
antagonism · provocation · animosity · friction · tension · confrontation · warfare · skirmish
revenge
Punishing a wrongdoer
retribution · payback · requital · comeuppance · tit-for-tat · vindication · nemesis · avenger · vengeful · wrath
react
Answer a stimulus
comeback · kickback · rebound · recoil · repercussion · feedback · answer · reply · retort · rejoinder
punish
Penalize for wrongdoing
- sanctionApproval or punitive measure
- penalizeImpose a disadvantage for wrongdoing
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
chastise · castigate · condemn · sentence · justice · redress · recompense · reparation · amends · correction
counterstrike
Retaliatory military action
- counterattackOffensive response to aggression
- counterblowRetaliatory strike
- countermeasureDefense against a threat
counteroffensive · repulse · rebuff · parry · riposte · counterpunch
escalation
Progressive increase in intensity
- feudBitter ongoing rivalry
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- aggressionHostile or attacking behavior
clash · antagonism · provocation · animosity · friction · tension · confrontation · warfare · skirmish · offensive
- confrontationsargue, fight, clash, quarrel, dispute
- fighting movespunch, uppercut, kick, jab, elbow strike
- aggressionhostility, violence, attack, fight, combativeness
- conflictclash, fight, war, battle, dispute
- warfarebattle, combat, attack, war, armed conflict
- competition verbscompete, rival, contend, challenge, oppose
retaliateforgive
Cease to blame
turn the other cheek · pardon · absolve · show mercy · let go
retaliatesubmit
Present for consideration
surrender · capitulate · suffer in silence · yield · acquiesce
retaliateinitiate
To set in motion
strike first · provoke · instigate · aggress
- retaliatory strikeResponsive military action
- retaliatory tariffsPunitive import taxes in response
- employer retaliationPunishing workers who complained
- massive retaliationAll-out punitive response doctrine
- whistleblower retaliationPunishing those who report misconduct
retaliation, retaliating, retaliated, retaliates, retaliatory, retaliations, retaliator, retaliators