Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
1,760,090,150 visitors served.
forum mailing list For webmasters
?
New: Language forums
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

retaliation

   Also found in: Legal, Acronyms, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.02 sec.
re·tal·i·ate  (r-tl-t)
v. re·tal·i·at·ed, re·tal·i·at·ing, re·tal·i·ates
v.intr.
To return like for like, especially evil for evil.
v.tr.
To pay back (an injury) in kind.

[Late Latin retlire, retlit- : Latin re-, re- + Latin tli, punishment in kind; see tel- in Indo-European roots.]

re·tali·ation n.
re·tali·ative, re·tali·a·tory (--tôr, -tr) adj.
re·tali·ator n.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.retaliationretaliation - action taken in return for an injury or offense
getting even, paying back, return - a reciprocal group action; "in return we gave them as good as we got"
vengeance, payback, retribution - the act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done) especially in the next life; "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord"--Romans 12:19; "For vengeance I would do nothing. This nation is too great to look for mere revenge"--James Garfield; "he swore vengeance on the man who betrayed him"; "the swiftness of divine retribution"
reprisal - a retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime

retaliation
noun revenge, repayment, vengeance, reprisal, retribution, tit for tat, an eye for an eye, reciprocation, counterstroke, requital, counterblow, a taste of your own medicine They believe the attack was in retaliation for his death.
Quotations
"The smallest worm will turn, being trodden on" [William Shakespeare Henry VI, part 3]
Translations
retaliation [rɪˌtælɪˈeɪʃən] N (Mil) → represalias fpl; (= revenge) → represalia f
he sulks as a form of retaliationsu forma de desquitarse es enfurruñarse
in or by way of retaliation (for sth): he was executed in retaliation for a raid on their headquarterslo ejecutaron como represalia por el asalto de su sede
retaliation [rɪˌtæliˈeɪʃən] nreprésailles fpl
in retaliation for → en représailles de, par représailles pour
retaliation
nVergeltung f; (in fight also) → Vergeltungsschlag m; (in argument, diplomacy etc) → Konterschlag m; his retaliation was viciouser hat sich auf üble Weise revanchiert; in retaliationzur Vergeltung; that’s my retaliation for what you did to medas ist meine Revanche für das, was Sie mir angetan haben; in retaliation for your unkindnessum mich für Ihre Unfreundlichkeit zu revanchieren; policy of retaliationVergeltungspolitik f
retaliation [rɪˌtælɪˈeɪʃn] nrappresaglie fpl
by way of retaliation, in retaliation → per rappresaglia
in retaliation for → per vendicarsi di
retaliation [rɪˌtælɪˈeɪʃn] nrappresaglie fpl
by way of retaliation, in retaliation → per rappresaglia
in retaliation for → per vendicarsi di


How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
The injuries to Dak Kova had delayed the march so greatly that it was decided to give up the expedition, which was a raid upon a small Thark community in retaliation for the destruction of the incubator, until after the great games, and the entire body of warriors, ten thousand in number, turned back toward Warhoon.
The attempt of Captain Bonneville to rouse the war spirit of the Nez Perces, and prompt them to retaliation, was ardently seconded by Kosato.
These unjustifiable practices on their part produced severity on the part of the Spaniards toward the subjects of Great Britain which were not more justifiable, because they exceeded the bounds of a just retaliation and were chargeable with inhumanity and cruelty.
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.