verb

retaliate

rih-TAL-ee-ayt/rɪˈtælieɪt/

To harm someone in return for harm or insult.

The younger woman retaliates by shoving the older woman back.

A text-free two-panel sequence shows an older woman forcefully shoving a younger woman, followed by the younger woman angrily shoving her back.

Etymology

reLatinback

+taliLatinpayment exacted in kind

+ateLatinpast-participle ending

The pieces express paying someone back in kind. Retaliate originally included returning kindness or civility, but its usual meaning narrowed to answering injury with injury.

In context

ABC News In-depth1:41

they retaliate with full force. Some Indian mutineers are tied to the mouths of cannons and blown apart.

The assassination of the Viceroy of India | ASSASSINS

More examples

She refuses to retaliate after her coworker sabotages her project.
The coach retaliated by benching the player who criticized him.
The two countries keep retaliating with higher tariffs.

Forms

retaliate · retaliates · retaliated · retaliating

retaliation noun — Harmful action taken in return for harm.

retaliatory adjective — Intended to repay harm or insult.

Similar words

avenge: Emphasizes seeking revenge for a specific wrong or injured person.
counterattack: Specifically means attacking in response to an attack, not merely insult.