retaliates
Gets even with
Retaliates means to strike back or take revenge after being harmed or wronged.
The word implies a response in kind—if someone insults you and you insult them back, you retaliate: When she criticized his work, he retaliated by questioning her credentials.
Retaliation often suggests escalation or a tit-for-tat dynamic.
Retaliation for injury
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- reprisalPunitive action in return
- avengePunish on behalf of
nemesis · grudge · spite · comeuppance · feud · vendetta · punish · vindictive
Solid mass, or impede
- parryDefensive blade deflection
- deflectTurn from course
- repelDrive off or disgust
- rebuffAbrupt, curt rejection
resist · oppose · counteract · counterstrike · counterpunch · countermove · self-defense
Offensive response to aggression
vengeance
Retaliation for injury
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- reprisalPunitive action in return
avenge · nemesis · grudge · spite · comeuppance · feud · vendetta · punish · vindictive · vengeful
block
Solid mass, or impede
rebuff · resist · oppose · counteract · counterstrike · counterpunch · countermove · self-defense
counterattack
Offensive response to aggression
respond · reciprocate · return
retaliatesinitiates
Starts or new members
instigates · provokes · starts · aggresses
retaliatesreconciles
Resolves differences between parties
makes peace · capitulates · surrenders · concedes · yields
- 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, retaliate, retaliating, retaliated, retaliatory, retaliations, retaliator, retaliators