Definitions for retaliate
rɪˈtæl iˌeɪtre·tal·i·ate

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. revenge, avenge, retaliateverb

   take revenge for a perceived wrong

   "He wants to avenge the murder of his brother"

2. retaliate, strike backverb

   make a counterattack and return like for like, especially evil for evil

   "The Empire strikes back"; "The Giants struck back and won the opener"; "The Israeli army retaliated for the Hamas bombing"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. retaliateverb

   To do something harmful or negative to get revenge for some harm; to fight back or respond in kind to an injury or affront.

   John replied to Peter's insult with a verbal attack to retaliate for Peter's acid remark earlier.

2. Etymology: From retaliatus, past participle of retaliare, from re + talis.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. To RETALIATEverb

   To return by giving like for like; to repay; to requite.

   Etymology: re and talio, Lat.

   It is very unlucky, to be obliged to retaliate the injuries of authors, whose works are so soon forgotten, that we are in danger of appearing the first aggressors. Jonathan Swift.

   If a first minister of state had used me as you have done, retaliating would be thought a mark of courage. Jonathan Swift.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. retaliate

   Revenge is committing a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. Primitive justice or retributive justice is often differentiated from more formal and refined forms of justice such as distributive justice and divine judgment.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Retaliateverb

   to return the like for; to repay or requite by an act of the same kind; to return evil for (evil). [Now seldom used except in a bad sense.]

2. Retaliateverb

   to return like for like; specifically, to return evil for evil; as, to retaliate upon an enemy

3. Etymology: [L. retaliatus, p. p. of retaliare to retaliate; pref. re- re- + a word akin to talio talion, retaliation. Cf. Talion.]

FreebaseRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Retaliate

   Retaliate is the debut album of Maryland deathgrind band Misery Index. Track 5 was previously recorded and released on a split with Structure of Lies.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Retaliate

   rē-tal′i-āt, v.t. to return like for like: to repay.—v.i. to return like for like.—n. Retaliā′tion, act of retaliating: 'lex talionis:' retribution.—adjs. Retal′iātive, Retal′iātory, returning like for like. [L. retaliāre, -ātum—re-, in return, talio, -onis, like for like—talis, of such a kind.]

Matched Categories

1. • Punish

Anagrams for retaliate »

1. aliterate

2. elettaria

How to pronounce retaliate?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

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   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

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   Neerja

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   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

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   Fred

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   Tessa

   South African

How to say retaliate in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of retaliate in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of retaliate in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of retaliate in a Sentence

1. Donald Trump:

   Rather than address our legitimate concerns, China has begun to retaliate against President Donald Trump products, there is no justification for such action.

2. Ebru Ozkan:

   However, we will retaliate against this. Our relations will normalize when Israel stops its inhumane policies.

3. Antonio Fatas:

   Trade war is not a risk but a reality, u.S. tariffs are going up against China but also against some of its traditional allies, such as Canada and the European Union. They are all about to retaliate and today we do not see an easy way out.

4. Alexandra Harwin:

   It is completely illegal for employers to retaliate against employees who complain about workplace discrimination, but this is exactly what Robert De Niro did to Ms. Robinson, inventing claims to ruin her reputation and humiliate her because he knew she was going to expose his behavior.

5. John Driscoll:

   The Chinese have to do the tit-for-tat, they have to retaliate.

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