retaliate
Translation
to retaliate, to strike back, to get revenge
Examples
If you insult him, he will retaliate.
If you insult him, he will retaliate.
The army will retaliate against any attack.
The army will retaliate against any attack.
Grammar Patterns
((against sb./sth.)) to hurt someone because they have hurt you. The army will retaliate against any attack.
(()) to react to something bad that has been done to you. If you insult him, he will retaliate.
Similar Words
Synonyms: strike back, fight back, reciprocate; Antonyms: forgive, pardon
Etymology
From Latin 're-' (back) + 'talis' (such). The idea is 'to pay back in kind'.
Memory Tips
Imagine someone 're-tallying' the score by hitting back to make things even.