retaliation
Striking back hard
Retaliation is striking back after being harmed or wronged—returning injury for injury.
The word implies proportional response: The bombing was retaliation for the embassy attack.
In legal contexts, retaliation often describes prohibited punishment of employees who report misconduct: She sued for retaliation after being fired for filing a complaint.
Strong negative reaction
- countermeasureDefense against a threat
- reciprocationMutual exchange of actions
- tit-for-tatEquivalent retaliation strategy
- quid pro quoReciprocal exchange of value
reciprocity · blowback · pushback · reaction · answer · rejoinder · counter · reprisal
Retaliation for injury
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- avengePunish on behalf of
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
spite · nemesis · wrath · fury · resentment · animosity · hatred · vindictiveness
Progressive increase in intensity
- counterattackOffensive response to aggression
- counterstrikeRetaliatory military action
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
- warfareArmed conflict between groups
aggression · combat · skirmish · battle · confrontation · offensive · strike back · fighting back
Approval or punitive measure
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- lawsuitCivil court proceeding
- litigationLegal dispute process
injunction · damages · settlement · court action · legal action · restraining order · whistleblower protection · wrongful termination
Terminating employment
- demotionReduction in status
- blacklistingFormally marking for rejection
- ostracismBanishment from a group
- reassignmentShifting to new duties
pay cut · negative review · exclusion · intimidation · harassment · hostile environment · whistleblower · reporting
backlash
Strong negative reaction
- countermeasureDefense against a threat
- reciprocationMutual exchange of actions
- tit-for-tatEquivalent retaliation strategy
quid pro quo · reciprocity · blowback · pushback · reaction · answer · rejoinder · counter · reprisal · counterpunch
vengeance
Retaliation for injury
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- avengePunish on behalf of
grudge · spite · nemesis · wrath · fury · resentment · animosity · hatred · vindictiveness · score-settling
escalation
Progressive increase in intensity
- counterattackOffensive response to aggression
- counterstrikeRetaliatory military action
- hostilitiesActive armed fighting
warfare · aggression · combat · skirmish · battle · confrontation · offensive · strike back · fighting back · armed response
sanction
Approval or punitive measure
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- lawsuitCivil court proceeding
litigation · injunction · damages · settlement · court action · legal action · restraining order · whistleblower protection · wrongful termination · discrimination claim
firing
Terminating employment
- demotionReduction in status
- blacklistingFormally marking for rejection
- ostracismBanishment from a group
reassignment · pay cut · negative review · exclusion · intimidation · harassment · hostile environment · whistleblower · reporting
- counterattackscounterattack, counterblow, counterstrike, counterpunch, counteroffensive
- discrimination lawanti-discrimination, nondiscrimination, gender bias, pay discrimination, discrimination lawsuit
- official misconductmalfeasance, ethics violation, misconduct, misfeasance, nonfeasance
- employmentjob, jobs, career, careers, interview
- rentingtenant, landlord, rent, rental, renter
- warfarebattle, combat, attack, war, armed conflict
retaliationunprovoked attack
first strike · aggression · initiation · provocation · instigation
retaliationnonresistance
Refusal to oppose force
pacifism · nonviolence · submission · acceptance · passivity
- employer retaliationPunishing workers who complained
- massive retaliationAll-out punitive response doctrine
- whistleblower retaliationPunishing those who report misconduct