retaliative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•tal•i•ate /rɪˈtæliˌeɪt/   v. [no object] , -at•ed, -at•ing. 

1. to strike back for an injury or wrong:
   had to retaliate for the injury done to his brother.

re•tal•i•a•tive, re•tal•i•a•to•ry /rɪˈtæliəˌtɔri/  adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

re•tal•i•ate  (ri tal′ē āt′), v., -at•ed, -at•ing. 
v.i. 

1. to return like for like, esp. evil for evil:
   to retaliate for an injury.

v.t. 

2. to requite or make return for (a wrong or injury) with the like.

• Late Latin retāliātus (past participle of retāliāre), equivalent. to re- re- + tāli(s) such, of such a nature + -ātus -ate¹
• 1605–15;

re•tal′i•a′tive, re•tal•i•a•to•ry  (ri tal′ē ə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē), adj.  re•tal′i•a′tor, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. counter, repay, reciprocate.