retaliate

USAGE SUMMARY

'retaliate' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express a reaction of revenge or a counter-action in response to an aggressive or hostile act. For example: "The country retaliated with sanctions after the attack."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Americans have threatened to retaliate against this retaliation, raising the risk of a genuine trade war over steel.

The Economist

The world community responds predictably: diplomacy, sanctions, supporting the internal dissent in the terrorist "safe haven" countries, eventually ordering special military units to deploy and retaliate.

The Guardian - Opinion

Here's a roundup of the latest developments: Syria The four-day ceasefire started at dawn on Friday, but the army warned it would retaliate against rebel attacks, the BBC reports.

The Guardian

Dr Sigman may well be right but rather intriguingly Völler proved the exception to the rule by refusing to retaliate in any way, aggressively or otherwise, bearing his multiple punishments and degradations at the hands of both referee and opponent with a stoicism that bordered on the truly heroic.

The Guardian - Sport

Erdos said that data protection can cover "simply privacy intrusion" and that on that basis it might be necessary to consider that notifying sites, which might then retaliate by putting up new content about people, "would cause them unwarranted damage and/or distress".

The Guardian - Tech

Netanyahu has refused to rule out further action aimed at preventing advanced or chemical weapons being transferred to Islamic militants, despite the Syrian regime's threats to retaliate on the next occasion.

The Guardian

So to retaliate against two terrorists by lashing out at potentially 1.6 billion people simply doesn't make sense.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr Obama has held back from visible trade spats which might spook the market, instead pushing his team to find discreet ways to retaliate against such Chinese bad behaviour as the theft or forced transfer of Western technology, or market-distorting subsidies.

The Economist

But in the first version of the game he remains ahead if he does not retaliate (50 cents v 30 cents), in the second he comes out equal (50 cents v 50 cents), and in the third he ends up behind (50 cents v 90 cents).The upshot was that in the first two cases about 15% of second players chose to retaliate if they had money taken.

The Economist

Now the odds of Labour winning, or sharing power with the Lib Dems, have increased.The Tory rebels who voted against Lords reform knew their partners would retaliate.

The Economist

However, Pakistan would certainly retaliate to open deployment (there was a fuss last year, when some of the missiles were moved, but not supposedly deployed, to a base not far from the border with Pakistan) by deploying the M-11 missiles it has received, but not yet unpacked, from China.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "retaliate", consider the context and ensure the severity of the response is proportionate to the initial action. Overreacting can escalate conflicts.

Common error

Avoid using "retaliate" when a simple response or reaction is more appropriate. For instance, instead of saying "He retaliated to the criticism", consider "He responded to the criticism."

Linguistic Context

Retaliate functions primarily as a verb, indicating an action taken in response to harm or offense. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent use in diverse contexts, signifying its role in expressing reciprocal actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "retaliate" is a verb used to describe responding to harm or offense with a similar action. Ludwig AI confirms that "retaliate" is correct and usable in written English, advising to use it when you want to express a reaction of revenge or a counter-action in response to an aggressive or hostile act. This word is very common in the news & media. When using "retaliate", ensure the response is proportionate to the initial action and avoid redundancy by not adding "back". Consider alternatives like "strike back" or "respond in kind" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

respond in kind

Highlights the mirroring of the initial action with a similar counter-action.

strike back

Suggests a more immediate and forceful response to an attack or provocation.

reciprocate the offense

Emphasizes the act of returning a similar offense or injury.

take revenge

Focuses specifically on the act of seeking revenge for a perceived wrong.

avenge oneself

Highlights the personal motivation behind the act of retaliation.

get even

An informal way of expressing the desire to balance a wrong by inflicting a similar harm.

counterattack

Emphasizes an aggressive response, particularly in a military or competitive context.

pay back

An informal term indicating a desire to reciprocate a harmful action.

exact retribution

Implies a more formal or severe form of retaliation, often through legal or official channels.

return the blow

Suggests a direct and often physical response to an attack.

FAQs

How to use "retaliate" in a sentence?

You can use "retaliate" to describe a response to an attack or injury. For example, "The country threatened to "retaliate against" further aggression."

What can I say instead of "retaliate"?

You can use alternatives like "strike back", "get revenge", or "respond in kind" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "retaliate" or "retaliate back"?

"Retaliate" already implies a return action, so adding "back" is redundant. Use simply "retaliate". For instance, "They will "retaliate"."

What's the difference between "retaliate" and "react"?

"React" is a general response to a stimulus, while "retaliate" specifically implies a harmful or aggressive response to a perceived wrong or attack. Retaliation is a specific type of reaction.