Standard Lemma guide

retaliatory

adj · 2 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.

  • /ɹɪˈtælɪət(ə)ɹɪ/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: R IY0 T AE1 L Y AH0 T AO2 R IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Relating to or part of a retaliation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The hostile forces were at an impasse; neither could attack with enough force and still defend against the retaliatory counterattack.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: punitive, retributive, vengeful, avengeful, pluckcrow, revengeful, vengeable, vengesome, vindical, vindictive, wreakful

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

of or relating to or having the nature of retribution

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • retributive justice demands an eye for an eye

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: relatiative, retributive, retributory, vindicatory

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English retaliate Proto-Indo-European *-tōr Proto-Italic *-tōr Latin -tor Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -tōriusder. Middle English -orie English -ory English retaliatory From retaliate + -ory.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: отмъстителен (otmǎstitelen) — relating to or part of a retaliation
  • Bulgarian: ответен (otveten) — relating to or part of a retaliation
  • Czech: odvetný — relating to or part of a retaliation
  • Finnish: vasta- — relating to or part of a retaliation
  • Finnish: kosto- — relating to or part of a retaliation
  • Finnish: hyvitys- — relating to or part of a retaliation
  • German: Vergeltungs- — relating to or part of a retaliation
  • Hungarian: megtorló — relating to or part of a retaliation
  • Plautdietsch: racheewent — relating to or part of a retaliation
  • Polish: odwetowy — relating to or part of a retaliation
  • Spanish: represaliante — relating to or part of a retaliation
  • Spanish: retaliador — relating to or part of a retaliation
  • Spanish: retaliativo — relating to or part of a retaliation
  • Spanish: retaliatorio — relating to or part of a retaliation