v. t. | 1. | 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.] |
v. i. | 1. | To return like for like; specifically, to return evil for evil; |
Verb | 1. | retaliate - take revenge for a perceived wrong; "He wants to avenge the murder of his brother" |
2. | retaliate - 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 |