retaliate
/rɪˈtæliˌeɪt/
verb
- To harm someone or do something bad to them because they have harmed you first.
- The country threatened to retaliate if its borders were crossed.
- When the other team insulted them, they chose not to retaliate.
- She did not retaliate when her brother took her toy, but instead told her parents.
- To respond to an action with a similar action, often in a competitive or strategic way.
- In chess, he retaliated to his opponent's attack by moving his queen.
- The student retaliated to the unfair grade by asking for a meeting with the teacher.
- The company retaliated by lowering its prices after its competitor did the same.