- (intransitive) to take retributory action, esp by returning some injury or wrong in kind
- (intransitive) to cast (an accusation) back upon a person
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
re•tal•i•ate /rɪˈtæliˌeɪt/USA pronunciation
v. [no object], -at•ed, -at•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to strike back for an injury or wrong:had to retaliate for the injury done to his brother.
re•tal•i•ate
(ri tal′ē āt′),USA pronunciation v., -at•ed, -at•ing.
v.i.
v.t.
re•tal′i•a′tive, re•tal•i•a•to•ry
(ri tal′ē ə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē),USA pronunciation adj.
re•tal′i•a′tor, n.
v.i.
- to return like for like, esp. evil for evil:to retaliate for an injury.
v.t.
- to requite or make return for (a wrong or injury) with the like.
- Late Latin retāliātus (past participle of retāliāre), equivalent. to re- re- + tāli(s) such, of such a nature + -ātus -ate1
- 1605–15;
- 1. counter, repay, reciprocate.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
retaliate /rɪˈtælɪˌeɪt/ vb
'retaliate' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):