RETALIATION Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

retaliation

noun

Definition of retaliation

as in revenge

the act or an instance of responding to an injury with an injury police believe that the murder was in retaliation for an earlier gangland execution

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of retaliation In his book, Davis says Shakur and his group were responsible for the attack – itself a retaliation for another incident. — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026 Clashes escalated sharply in February when Afghan forces launched a raid into Pakistan in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan. — ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026 Then, with less than a minute left in the game, Sheldon stole the ball and streaked up the court, only to have Cunningham catch up, fling her arms around Sheldon’s neck, and throw her to the ground in apparent retaliation for the eye poke on Clark. — Kase Wickman, Vanity Fair, 12 Aug. 2026 Employees scared about retaliation could report anonymously to DCS, the company said. — Paige Pfleger, ProPublica, 12 Aug. 2026 The city has not admitted that retaliation motivated its vote. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Ellison’s threat to relocate Paramount in retaliation for California’s Bonta leading the charge to kill the WBD deal — a move that would include much of its studio operations, over time — was first reported by industry newsletter Puck. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 11 Aug. 2026 About six months later, Smalls, 24, was shot and killed in what many speculate was an act of retaliation by the Bloods and Death Row Records. — Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026 Six months later, a disillusioned Stapleton resigned, claiming she had been demoted during the most recent restructuring as retaliation for helping to spearhead the walkout. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 11 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for retaliation

Noun

The 2026 schedule will be challenging as well with two September clashes with conference contender SMU and a trip to Tuscaloosa to face revenge-minded Alabama.

— Andre C. Fernandez, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026
Salma Hayek Pinault is out for revenge in the trailer for Angelina Jolie’s Without Blood.

— Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of revenge

Noun

There is plenty of bloodshed and adrenaline, but those action scenes serve mostly as retribution and to tie up loose plot points.

— Whitney Friedlander, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026
What’s happening in Gaza is excessive retribution, and many Americans do not support that carnage, as recent polls pertaining to Israel indicate.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of retribution

Browse Nearby Words

retaliating

retaliation

retaliations

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“Retaliation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retaliation. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of retaliation

noun

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