retaliate

[ ri-tal-ee-eyt ]
/ rɪˈtæl iˌeɪt /

verb (used without object), re·tal·i·at·ed, re·tal·i·at·ing.

to return like for like, especially evil for evil: to retaliate for an injury.

verb (used with object), re·tal·i·at·ed, re·tal·i·at·ing.

to requite or make return for (a wrong or injury) with the like.

Origin of retaliate

1605–15; < Late Latin retāliātus (past participle of retāliāre), equivalent to re- re- + tāli(s) such, of such a nature + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM retaliate

Example sentences from the Web for retaliative

British Dictionary definitions for retaliative

retaliate
/ (rɪˈtælɪˌeɪt) /

verb

(intr) to take retributory action, esp by returning some injury or wrong in kind
(intr) to cast (accustations) back upon a person
(tr) rare to avenge (an injury, wrong, etc)

Derived forms of retaliate

retaliation, noun retaliative or retaliatory, adjective retaliator, noun

Word Origin for retaliate

C17: from Late Latin retāliāre, from Latin re- + tālis of such kind