Meaning & use
retaliate
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Meanings
verbintransitive
To harm or attack someone in return for something they have done to you.
Grammar: No object; often followed by 'against' or 'by doing something'.
Patterns
- retaliate against someone
- retaliate by doing something
- retaliate for something
The country threatened to retaliate against the sanctions.
He retaliated by spreading rumors about her.
She didn't retaliate when they insulted her.
verbintransitive
To respond to an attack or criticism with a similar action.
Grammar: Often used in news reports about conflicts or arguments.
Patterns
- retaliate with something
- retaliate against something
The army retaliated with airstrikes.
If you criticize him, he will retaliate with personal attacks.
Word forms
| third person singular | retaliates |
|---|---|
| past tense | retaliated |
| past participle | retaliated |
| -ing form | retaliating |
Common combinations
- retaliate against
- The company retaliated against the whistleblower by firing him.
- retaliate by doing something
- She retaliated by filing a lawsuit.
- threaten to retaliate
- The president threatened to retaliate if the attacks continued.
Synonyms and how they differ
- avenge
- More formal and often implies getting justice for a wrong; 'retaliate' focuses on returning harm.
- strike back
- Informal and often physical; 'retaliate' can be used for words or actions.
- counterattack
- Specifically military or in sports; 'retaliate' is broader.
Opposites
Word family
- retaliation noun
- The act of retaliating.
- retaliatory adjective
- Done as a retaliation, e.g., retaliatory measures.
Commonly confused: retaliate or revenge?
retaliate vs revenge
A noun or verb meaning to punish someone for a wrong, often personal; 'retaliate' is more about immediate response.
Practice
After the unfair criticism, she _____ by pointing out his own mistakes.
Choose one answer.
The past tense 'retaliated' fits because the action happened in the past. 'Retaliate' is the base form, 'retaliating' is the -ing form, and 'retaliation' is a noun, which would not fit grammatically after 'she'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “retaliate”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.