What does "retaliate" mean?

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

What is a synonym for "retaliate"?

Common synonyms include: avenge, alternate, atone, avenge, avenged, avenges.

Pronounced //ɹɪˈtæl.i.eɪt//.

/ɹɪˈtæl.i.eɪt/ verb

verb ·Moderate ·College level

Verb

1
To do something harmful or negative to get revenge for some harm; to fight back or respond in kind to an injury or affront. intransitive
"John insulted Peter to retaliate for Peter's acid remark earlier."
2
make a counterattack and return like for like, especially evil for evil wordnet
3
To repay or requite by an act of the same kind. transitive
"One ambassador sent word to the duke's son that his visit should be retaliated."
4
take revenge for a perceived wrong wordnet

"How can you be so passive? Why don't you retaliate?"

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