expected retaliation

USAGE SUMMARY

"expected retaliation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which someone may disagree with a decision or opinion and take actions in response to it. For example, "The protesters expected a strong retaliation from the police for their actions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Mets players said they expected retaliation today, and Denny Neagle threw behind Perez in the first inning.

The New York Times - Sports

Years later, he said, Mr. Fhimah, angry that bomb investigators were focusing on him, said the West never expected retaliation for bombing Tripoli, Libya's capital.

The New York Times

According to a senior American diplomat who attended the briefing, Mattis declared that, if the Iranians attacked American forces, he was authorized to defend them — and that he expected retaliation.

The New Yorker

Here are a few highlights taken directly from the text of AMD's complaint: "In 2002, when AMD set out to earn a place in HP's commercial desktop product roadmap, HP demanded a $25 million quarterly fund to compensate it for Intel's expected retaliation.

Forbes

"Our message wasn't getting through," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity, as the United States tried to contain China's expected retaliation to the charges.

The New York Times

Al Qaeda's expected retaliation for the U.S. cruise missile attack against Al Qaeda's training facilities in Afghanistan on Aug. 20, 1998, could take several forms of terrorist attack in the nation's capital.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

He expects retaliation.

The Economist

The attacks were intended to say: 'If you mess with us, you can expect retaliation.' ".

The New York Times

Atheists, homosexuals and others may well expect retaliation for expressing their views openly online.

The New York Times

One should expect retaliation for the latest wave of Middle East violence".

The New York Times - Magazine

Expect retaliation, though possibly not as forceful as it would be if Tony Gallagher were still Telegraph editor.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "expected retaliation" when you want to convey that a response to an action is not only anticipated but also likely to be negative or harmful.

Common error

Be careful not to use "expected retaliation" when the response is merely a possibility. The phrase implies a high degree of confidence that the retaliation will occur.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expected retaliation" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause. It denotes the anticipation of a negative response, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "expected retaliation" is a noun phrase used to describe the anticipation of a negative response to an action. As verified by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and most commonly found in news and media contexts. While not overly formal, it's less common in casual conversation. When writing, ensure you're conveying a high degree of confidence that the retaliation will occur. Consider alternatives like "anticipated reprisal" or "predicted retribution" for a more formal tone. This phrase denotes a negative response to an action and it is recommended to consider alternatives if this denotation needs to be attenuated.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

anticipated reprisal

Focuses on the act of revenge or punishment that is foreseen.

predicted retribution

Emphasizes the forecasting of deserved punishment as a consequence.

foreseen revenge

Highlights the aspect of personal vengeance that has been anticipated.

projected comeback

Suggests a return to a previous state or position, specifically one that is expected.

imminent counterstrike

Implies an immediate and forceful response that is about to happen.

anticipated counteraction

Highlights a response that is foreseen or predicted.

forecasted response

A general term for any kind of reaction that is predicted in advance.

impending vengeance

Focuses on the threat of revenge that is about to occur.

looming reprisal

Suggests a sense of threat and immediacy regarding the foreseen revenge.

anticipated pushback

Specifically addresses a negative reaction or resistance that is expected.

FAQs

How can I use "expected retaliation" in a sentence?

You can use "expected retaliation" to describe a situation where a response to an action is anticipated, such as "The company prepared for "expected retaliation" after announcing the layoffs."

What's a more formal alternative to "expected retaliation"?

A more formal alternative could be "anticipated reprisal" or "predicted retribution", which convey a similar meaning but with a more elevated tone.

Is it always negative when referring to "expected retaliation"?

Yes, "expected retaliation" typically implies a negative or harmful response. It suggests that the action taken will likely provoke a counteraction that is undesirable.

What is the difference between "retaliation" and ""expected retaliation""?

"Retaliation" refers to the act of responding to an action, while ""expected retaliation"" refers to the anticipation that such a response will occur. The latter includes a predictive element.