retaliation

Noun

Meaning

The act of retaliating, or of returning like for like; retribution; now, specifically, the return of evil for evil; e.g., an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Source: Webster's dictionary

Synonyms

punishment revenge retribution reprisal vengeance requital comeback counterattack tit for tat avenging quid pro quo counterstrike payback avengement counteraction
Show all synonyms

Antonyms

approval adoption default assumption charity reward
Show all antonyms

Hypernyms

return paying back getting even

Hyponyms

vengeance retribution reprisal payback

Related terms

retaliatory retaliate

Phrases with the word

in retaliation initial retaliation equivalent retaliation retaliation in kind aforementioned retaliation

Examples

Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love. Martin Luther King Jr.

Without forgiveness life is governed by... an endless cycle of resentment and retaliation. Roberto Assagioli

There was nothing I could say in retaliation except something that would confuse her. E. Lockhart

When you say something really unkind, when you do something in retaliation your anger increases. You make the other person suffer, and he will try hard to say or to do something back to get relief from his suffering. That is how conflict escalates. Nhat Hanh

He who wrongs someone has to expect something in retaliation. Italian Proverb

Don't let your mouth accuse him; don't slander him; don't encourage violent retaliation against yourself. Sumerian Proverb

Close letter words and terms

retaliate for retaliate on retaliatingly retaliation in kind retaliationism retaliationist