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, retaliate

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, retaliate

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?

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How to use Retaliate in a sentence?

1. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu:

   We will retaliate against every step (by the YPG), the YPG will immediately withdraw from Azaz and the surrounding area and will not go close to it again.

2. Bonnie Glaser of the Center:

   I think this is quite a dangerous situation, there could be firing by the North Koreans, which then could prompt South Koreans to retaliate very quickly.

3. Wumi Afruyi:

   It's getting worse, honestly, if the cops think we're out to get them and that we want to retaliate, even if that's not 100% true, they're going to be hostile towards us, and we're going to be hostile towards them. It's a mess.

4. Ashin Wirathu:

   I’m trying to educate the people not to [retaliate], but these aggressive Muslims must be brought to justice.

5. 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.