'Retaliate' definitions:
Definition of 'retaliate'
(from WordNet)
verb
Take revenge for a perceived wrong; "He wants to avenge the murder of his brother" [syn: revenge, avenge, retaliate]
verb
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" [syn: retaliate, strike back]
Definition of 'Retaliate'
From: 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]
Definition of 'Retaliate'
From: GCIDE
- 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]
Synonyms of 'retaliate'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- alternate,
- atone,
- avenge,
- bandy,
- be quits with,
- change,
- come back at,
- commute,
- compensate,
- cooperate,
- counter,
- counterchange,
- cover,
- do penance,
- even the score,
- exchange,
- expiate,
- fill up,
- get back at,
- get even with,
- give,
- give and take,
- give in exchange,
- give in return,
- hit back at,
- indemnify,
- interchange,
- launch a vendetta,
- logroll,
- make amends,
- make compensation,
- make good,
- make up for,
- pay back,
- permute,
- reciprocate,
- recompense,
- rectify,
- repay,
- requite,
- respond,
- retort,
- return,
- return the compliment,
- revenge,
- set right,
- strike back,
- swap,
- switch,
- take revenge,
- trade,
- transpose