make a counterattack and return like for like, especially evil for evil; "The Empire strikes back"; "The Giants struck back and won the opener"; "The Israeli army retaliated for the Hamas bombing"
If you retaliate when someone harms or annoys you, you do something which harms or annoys them in return. I was sorely tempted to retaliate Christie retaliated by sending his friend a long letter detailing Carl's utter incompetence The militia responded by saying it would retaliate against any attacks They may retaliate with sanctions on other products if the bans are disregarded. + retaliation re·talia·tion Police said they believed the attack was in retaliation for the death of the drug trafficker. to do something bad to someone because they have done something bad to you hit back retaliate by doing sth (past participle of retaliare, from talio )