striking back
Responding with force
Striking back is retaliating—responding to an attack or offense with a counterattack of your own.
The phrase implies you were hit first: After years of taking abuse, she's finally striking back.
It carries connotations of justified or defensive aggression, distinguishing it from initiating conflict.
- retaliateRespond to injury alike
- return fireShoot at attackers
- reprisalPunitive action in return
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- counterstrikingOffensive response to attack
counterattack · rejoinder · defiance · revenge · countermeasure · vengeance · resistance · repartee · rebuttal · retort · insurgency · check · defense · deterrence · parry · settling scores · comeback · ambush
striking backletting it go
striking backsubmitting
Giving in or delivering
surrendering · yielding · capitulating · giving in · backing down
striking backforgiving
Inclined to pardon offenses
making peace · reconciling · burying the hatchet · pardoning · letting bygones be bygones
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