retaliate

Verb
Synonyms: revengeavengestrike back

WordNet 3.0

Verb (2)

  1. take revenge for a perceived wrong“He wants to avenge the murder of his brother”Synonyms: revengeavenge
  2. 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”Synonyms: strike back
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Retaliate \Re*tal"i*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Retaliated; p. pr. & vb. n. Retaliating.] [L. retaliatus, p. p. of retaliare to retaliate; pref. re- re- + a word akin to talio talion, retaliation. Cf. Talion.] 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.] [1913 Webster]

One ambassador sent word to the duke's son that his visit should be retaliated. --Sir T. Herbert. [1913 Webster]

It is 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. --Swift. [1913 Webster]

Retaliate \Re*tal"i*ate\, v. i. To return like for like; specifically, to return evil for evil; as, to retaliate upon an enemy. [1913 Webster]
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