retaliatory

[ ri-tal-ee-uh-tawr-ee ]

adjective

1. done in order to take revenge; returning evil for evil:

   Hate crimes are especially likely to inflict emotional harm and provoke retaliatory violence.

Other Words From

• un·re·tal·i·a·to·ry un·re·tal·i·a·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of retaliatory¹

retaliat(e) ( def ) + -ory ¹( def )

Example Sentences

Israel carried out its retaliatory strike on Iran on 26 October, having spent weeks deciding how to respond to the missiles fired by Tehran on 1 October.

From BBC

Amid Trump’s first-term trade war with China, Beijing aimed retaliatory tariffs at California farmers; economists calculated that California growers of almonds, the state’s most valuable export crop, lost about $875 million.

From Los Angeles Times

U.S. liquified natural gas producers worry that retaliatory tariffs could hamper their business.

From Salon

The European Commission says it’s ready, if needs be, with retaliatory measures, but would rather avoid marching down the trade war path with Trump.

From BBC

Some jurisdictions like the EU are already drawing up lists of pre-emptive retaliatory actions against the US, after ministers did not take seriously enough Trump's earlier threats of tariffs, which he later imposed.

From BBC

Related Words

• cruel
• malicious
• merciless
• resentful
• ruthless
• spiteful
• unforgiving
• vengeful