retaliations
Payback for wrongs
Retaliations are acts of revenge or reprisal—responses to injury or offense with similar treatment in return.
The word often appears in contexts of escalating conflict: The bombing prompted retaliations across the border.
Unlike a single retaliation, the plural suggests multiple acts or a pattern of vengeful responses: The gang war involved retaliations on both sides.
Retaliation for wrongs
- vengeanceRetaliation for injury
- grudgesPersistent ill will
- spitePetty malicious intent
- getting evenReciprocating a wrong
tit-for-tat · reciprocation · feuds · backstabbing · sabotage · cold shoulder · silent treatment · exclusion
Retaliatory offensive actions
- airstrikesMilitary attacks from aircraft
- bombardmentsSustained military attacks
- counterattacksOffensive responses to aggression
- drone strikesUnmanned aircraft weapon deployment
missile strikes · incursions · offensives · escalations · reprisals · counteroffensives · surgical strikes · preemptive strikes
Taxes on imports
- trade warsEconomic conflicts via import duties
- sanctionsPunitive international restrictions
- boycottsOrganized refusals to purchase
- embargoesRestrictions on international commerce
import duties · export restrictions · price wars · market manipulation · currency devaluation · trade barriers · quotas · blacklisting
Legal proceedings seeking remedy
- countersuitsLawsuits against those suing
- litigationLegal dispute process
- wrongful terminationIllegal firing from job
- discrimination claimsAllegations of prejudicial treatment
grievances · legal action · damages · settlements · injunctions · defamation suits · hostile work environment · harassment claims
Prolonged retaliatory conflicts
- drive-bysShootings from moving vehicles
- turf warsStruggles for domain control
- hitsBlows or successes
- street violenceAggressive acts in public
blood feuds · gang wars · shootings · intimidation · territory disputes · organized crime · contract killings · witness intimidation
payback
Retaliation for wrongs
getting even · tit-for-tat · reciprocation · feuds · backstabbing · sabotage · cold shoulder · silent treatment · exclusion · spreading rumors
counterstrikes
Retaliatory offensive actions
- airstrikesMilitary attacks from aircraft
- bombardmentsSustained military attacks
- counterattacksOffensive responses to aggression
drone strikes · missile strikes · incursions · offensives · escalations · reprisals · counteroffensives · surgical strikes · preemptive strikes · blockades
tariffs
Taxes on imports
- trade warsEconomic conflicts via import duties
- sanctionsPunitive international restrictions
- boycottsOrganized refusals to purchase
embargoes · import duties · export restrictions · price wars · market manipulation · currency devaluation · trade barriers · quotas · blacklisting · divestment
lawsuits
Legal proceedings seeking remedy
- countersuitsLawsuits against those suing
- litigationLegal dispute process
- wrongful terminationIllegal firing from job
discrimination claims · grievances · legal action · damages · settlements · injunctions · defamation suits · hostile work environment · harassment claims · unfair dismissal
vendettas
Prolonged retaliatory conflicts
street violence · blood feuds · gang wars · shootings · intimidation · territory disputes · organized crime · contract killings · witness intimidation · protection rackets
retaliationsforgiveness
Releasing resentment toward offenders
pardons · absolutions · clemency · amnesty · letting go
retaliationspeacemaking
Resolving conflicts through negotiation
truces · ceasefires · peace offerings · de-escalations · olive branches
retaliationsprovocations
Acts meant to antagonize
aggressions · initiations · instigations · offenses · preemptive strikes
- employer retaliationPunishing workers who complained
- massive retaliationAll-out punitive response doctrine
- whistleblower retaliationPunishing those who report misconduct