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retaliate

[ri-tal-ee-eyt] / rɪˈtæl iˌeɪt /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But the officials said Saudi Arabia has warned Iran might retaliate by closing the Bab al-Mandeb—a Red Sea chokepoint crucial for the kingdom’s remaining oil exports.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

I have waited before asking him for the money because I don’t want him to retaliate with a bad review.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 20, 2026

The government quickly put in place a new supreme leader, while its decentralised "mosaic defence" allowed the military to retaliate without losing much of a step.

From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026

Hurel cautions against writing off Iran's ability to retaliate either directly or through vigilante hacker groups.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

One day she decided to retaliate against a red-haired white woman who scowled at the sight of Cora’s duties “at sea.”

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead




Vocabulary lists containing retaliate