verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ɹɪˈtæl.i.eɪt/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:R IH0 T AE1 L IY0 EY2 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:R IY0 T AE1 L IY0 EY2 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To do something harmful or negative to get revenge for some harm; to fight back or respond in kind to an injury or affront.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
John insulted Peter to retaliate for Peter's acid remark earlier.
Many companies have policies in place to prevent bosses from retaliating against allegations of harassment.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To repay or requite by an act of the same kind.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
1713-174, Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope, Memoirs of Martinus Scriblerus Preface It is unlucky to be obliged to retaliate the injuries of authors, whose works are so soon forgotten that we are in danger of appearing the first aggressors.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
make a counterattack and return like for like, especially evil for evil
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The Empire strikes back
The Giants struck back and won the opener
The Israeli army retaliated for the Hamas bombing
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: strike back
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: strike, hit
4
verb
Meaning 4
take revenge for a perceived wrong
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
He wants to avenge the murder of his brother
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: revenge, avenge
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: punish, penalize, penalise
Narrower terms: get even, get back
History
Etymology
From Latin retāliātus, past participle of retāliō (“to requite, retaliate”).
Across languages
Translations
59 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
հատուցել
(hatucʻel)
— do something harmful to get revenge
Armenian:
վրեժ լուծել
(vrež lucel)
— do something harmful to get revenge
Bulgarian:
отплащам се
(otplaštam se)
— do something harmful to get revenge
Bulgarian:
отмъщавам
(otmǎštavam)
— do something harmful to get revenge
Catalan:
revenjar-se
— do something harmful to get revenge
Catalan:
tornar mal per mal
— do something harmful to get revenge
Chinese Mandarin:
報復 /报复
(bàofu)
— do something harmful to get revenge
Czech:
oplatit
— do something harmful to get revenge
Czech:
oplácet
— do something harmful to get revenge
Czech:
odplatit
— do something harmful to get revenge
Czech:
odplácet
— do something harmful to get revenge
Czech:
pomstít
— do something harmful to get revenge
Czech:
mstít se
— do something harmful to get revenge
Dutch:
vergelden
— do something harmful to get revenge
Estonian:
kätte maksma
— do something harmful to get revenge
Finnish:
kostaa
— do something harmful to get revenge
Finnish:
vastata samalla mitalla
— do something harmful to get revenge
French:
riposter
— do something harmful to get revenge
French:
rendre la pareille à quelqu'un
— do something harmful to get revenge
French:
user de représailles
— do something harmful to get revenge
French:
se venger de
— do something harmful to get revenge
Georgian:
სამაგიეროს გადახდა
(samagieros gadaxda)
— do something harmful to get revenge
German:
Vergeltung üben
— do something harmful to get revenge
German:
sich rächen
— do something harmful to get revenge
Hebrew:
עשה פעולת תגמול
(asá peulát tagmúl)
— do something harmful to get revenge
Hebrew:
נקם
(nakám)
— do something harmful to get revenge
Hungarian:
megbosszul
— do something harmful to get revenge
Hungarian:
elégtételt vesz
— do something harmful to get revenge
Hungarian:
bosszút áll
— do something harmful to get revenge
Hungarian:
megtorol
— do something harmful to get revenge
Icelandic:
svara í sömu mynt
— do something harmful to get revenge
Icelandic:
hefna sín
— do something harmful to get revenge
Icelandic:
gjalda líku líkt
— do something harmful to get revenge
Ido:
revanchar
— do something harmful to get revenge
Italian:
reagire
— do something harmful to get revenge
Italian:
rivalersi
— do something harmful to get revenge
Italian:
vendicarsi
— do something harmful to get revenge
Japanese:
仕返し
(shikaeshi suru)
— do something harmful to get revenge
Khmer:
សងសឹក
(sɑɑng sək)
— do something harmful to get revenge
Latin:
retalio
— do something harmful to get revenge
Malayalam:
തിരിച്ചടിക്കുക
(tiriccaṭikkuka)
— do something harmful to get revenge
Māori:
rautupu
— do something harmful to get revenge
Māori:
rautipu
— do something harmful to get revenge
Khiamniungan Naga:
thám
— do something harmful to get revenge
Polish:
mścić się
— do something harmful to get revenge
Portuguese:
retaliar
— do something harmful to get revenge
Romanian:
riposta
— do something harmful to get revenge
Romanian:
a plăti cu aceeași monedă (cuiva)
— do something harmful to get revenge
Romanian:
a se răzbuna
— do something harmful to get revenge
Russian:
мстить
(mstitʹ)
— do something harmful to get revenge
Russian:
отомсти́ть
(otomstítʹ)
— do something harmful to get revenge
Spanish:
represaliar
— do something harmful to get revenge
Spanish:
tomar represalias
— do something harmful to get revenge
Spanish:
retaliar
— do something harmful to get revenge
Spanish:
retalear
— do something harmful to get revenge
Swedish:
vedergälla
— do something harmful to get revenge
Turkish:
misilleme yapmak
— do something harmful to get revenge
Walloon:
si vindjî
— do something harmful to get revenge
Walloon:
si rvindjî
— do something harmful to get revenge
