Reading Theme:
Retaliate: Definition, Examples, and Usage Guide (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：get back at (retaliate)
retaliate
/rɪˈtæli.eɪt/
vi.
To do something bad to someone because they did something bad to you first.
get back at
➕
/ɡɛt bæk æt/
vi.
To harm or punish someone because they harmed you first, often in a personal or informal context.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 're-' (back) + 'talio' (punishment in kind).
💡 Mnemonic
If someone 'tails' you, you 're-tail' them — get back at them in kind.
📖 Example
After Tom played a mean prank on him, Sam decided to retaliate by hiding Tom's favorite shoes.
After Tom played a mean prank on him, Sam decided to get back at him by hiding Tom's favorite shoes.
🔗 Collocations
retaliate against someone – to take revenge on a person
retaliate for something – to take revenge because of a specific action
retaliate immediately – to respond with revenge without delay
🔄 Synonyms
avenge (v.) – to inflict harm in return for an injury or wrong
take revenge (phr.) – to cause harm to someone who has harmed you
get even (phr.) – to achieve a balance of harm by retaliating
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
retaliation (n.) – the act of retaliating
retaliatory (adj.) – relating to or involving retaliation
retaliator (n.) – a person who retaliates
📖 Cultural Story
The word originates from Roman legal principle 'lex talionis' (law of retaliation), where punishment mirrored the crime. It entered English in the 17th century via Latin.
Meaning 2：strike back (retaliate)
retaliate
/rɪˈtæli.eɪt/
vi.
To respond to an attack with a similar attack, especially in a war or official dispute.
strike back
➕
/straɪk bæk/
vi.
To launch a similar attack in response to an initial attack, especially in military, political, or cyber contexts.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
After suffering a major cyber attack, the government warned it would retaliate with economic sanctions.
After suffering a major cyber attack, the government warned it would strike back with economic sanctions.
🔗 Collocations
retaliate with force – to respond using military or physical power
retaliate against an invasion – to counter an invasion with a similar action
retaliate diplomatically – to respond with diplomatic measures such as sanctions
🔄 Synonyms
counterattack (v.) – to attack in response to an attack
repay (v.) – to give something in return, often harm for harm
retort (v.) – to respond sharply, often verbally (less common for physical attack)
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
retaliation (n.) – the act of striking back
retaliatory (adj.) – intended to strike back
retaliator (n.) – one who strikes back
Wordbook
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