re·tal·i·ate

(rĭ-tăl′ē-āt′)

v. re·tal·i·at·ed, re·tal·i·at·ing, re·tal·i·ates

v.intr.

To do something in response to an action done to oneself or an associate, especially to attack or injure someone as a response to a hurtful action.

v.tr.

To pay back (an injury) in kind.

[Late Latin retāliāre, retāliāt- : Latin re-, re- + Latin tāliō, punishment in kind; see telə- in Indo-European roots.]

re·tal′i·a′tion n.

re·tal′i·a′tive, re·tal′i·a·to′ry (-ə-tôr′ē) adj.

re·tal′i·a′tor n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

retaliator - someone who takes vengeance

avenger

aggressor, assailant, assaulter, attacker - someone who attacks

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

spark mi P "The referee spends more time speaking to the retaliator than he does to the person who could have severely injured someone," blasted McDermott.

IT'S ADAM AND EVEN; Rhinos see red as Sidlow snatches point LEEDS RHINOS 18 BRADFORD BULLS 18

Yet there are many everyday common words with this pattern--for example, ALTERNATOR, RETALIATOR, SENATORIAL, TRANSLATES, UNILATERAL.

Colloquy

If somebody starts something, more often than not it's the retaliator who gets stuck and gets punished.

Dhoni says Team India 'need to get smart' over making gestures to fans

The act of renaming is the first step in epistemic retaliation, since it transforms the reality of the retaliator and shapes it in a way that legitimises his struggle.

Violencia y venganza epistemologica: la cuestion de las formas de conocimiento en Mother India

(110) See Artists Against 419, supra note 73 at "Refi Retaliator II--Fake Bank Form Filler".

Technological self-help and equality in cyberspace

241, 253 (2003) (noting that in Maki and Green, the same court that dismissed charges against one player also found his opponent's actions to be instinctive and thus not inculpatory; thus, both the instigator and the retaliator were acquitted, even though the retaliator's blow was life-threatening).

The manly sports: the problematic use of criminal law to regulate sports violence

(5): Don't overreact against the alleged retaliator or the employee who claims retaliation.

Seven tips for avoiding retaliation claims (and still hold poor performers accountable)

If a nation that is a victim of international terrorism carries out retaliatory measures in the nation where the terrorists are based the retaliator will derive benefits and other nations that are potential victims will derive benefits from the unilateral action of the retaliating nation because the threat to all nations will be attenuated.

On the political economy of binational counter-terrorism

If convicted, the intentional retaliator is subject to a fine and/or imprisonment for up to ten years.

SOX and whistleblowing