Synonyms for retaliate
rɪˈtæl iˌeɪtre·tal·i·ate

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. retaliate

   Avenge and revenge, once close synonyms, are now far apart in meaning. To avenge is to visit some offense with punishment, in order to vindicate the righteous, or to uphold and illustrate the right by the suffering or destruction of the wicked. "And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian," Acts vii, 24. To revenge is to inflict harm or suffering upon another through personal anger and resentment at something done to ourselves. Avenge is unselfish; revenge is selfish. Revenge, according to present usage, could not be said of God. To retaliate may be necessary for self-defense, without the idea of revenge. Compare REVENGE.

   Synonyms:
   avenge, punish, revenge, vindicate, visit

   Preposition:
   Avenge on or upon (rarely, avenge oneself of) a wrong-doer.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. retaliate

   Synonyms:
   avenge, retort, repay, requite

   Antonyms:
   pardon, condone, forgive

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. revenge, avenge, retaliateverb

   take revenge for a perceived wrong

   "He wants to avenge the murder of his brother"

   Synonyms:
   strike back, revenge, avenge

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"

   Synonyms:
   avenge, strike back, revenge

Matched Categories

1. • Punish

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. retaliateverb

   Synonyms:
   return (by giving like for like, as an injury), repay, requite, revenge, take vengeance for

2. retaliateverb

   Synonyms:
   take revenge, return like for like, give one as good as one sends, give quid pro quo, give a rowland for an Oliver, give tit for tat

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. retaliateverb

   Synonyms:
   avenge, requite, repay

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "retaliate":

   revenge, reprisal

How to pronounce retaliate?

How to say retaliate in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use retaliate in a sentence?

1. Mike Pompeo:

   It is not possible that this decision, or my recommendation rather, to the President rather, was based on any effort to retaliate for any investigation that was going on, or is currently going on, because I simply don't know. I'm not briefed on it. I usually see these investigations in final draft form 24 hours, 48 hours before the IG is prepared to release them.

2. Bob Iger:

   The governor got very angry about the position that Disney took, and it seems like he’s decided to retaliate against us. … in effect, to seek to punish a company for its exercise of a constitutional right, and that just seems really wrong to me – against any company or individual, but particularly against a company that means so much to the state that you live in.

3. Niroshan Perera:

   I have a feeling in my heart that we should go after the Muslims, that we should retaliate.

4. Rainer Seele:

   Sanctions against Nord Stream 2 are a hit to Europe and Germany, a close ally (of the United States). It's time for Berlin and Brussels to take a clear political stance and to retaliate.

5. Guy Philippe:

   I will come to Port-au-Prince and I will come in good shape. I will retaliate if necessary. If they try to arrest me I will retaliate, because it is illegal.