retaliate

What it means

1. intransitiveTo do something harmful or negative to get revenge for some harm; to fight back or respond in kind to an injury or affront.

   John insulted Peter to retaliate for Peter's acid remark earlier.

   1 more example

   Many companies have policies in place to prevent bosses from retaliating against allegations of harassment.

2. transitiveTo repay or requite by an act of the same kind.

   1713-174, Jonathan Swift and Alexander Pope, Memoirs of Martinus Scriblerus Preface It is unlucky to be obliged to retaliate the injuries of authors, whose works are so soon forgotten that we are in danger of appearing the first aggressors.

   1 more example

   One ambassador sent word to the duke's son that his visit should be retaliated.

   1634, T[homas] H[erbert], A Relation of Some Yeares Trauaile, Begunne Anno 1626. into Afrique and the Greater Asia, […], London: […] William Stansby, and Jacob Bloome, →OCLC

In a sentence

John insulted Peter to retaliate for Peter's acid remark earlier.

Where it comes from

1. Latinretāliātus
2. Englishretaliate

From Latin retāliātus, past participle of retāliō (“to requite, retaliate”).