Retaliate

To retaliate means to get back at someone for something they did to you, usually by doing something similar or hurtful in return. It's like when someone hits you, and you feel like you want to hit them back.

Examples

• When the school bully pushed him on the playground, Jake decided it was better to walk away instead of retaliating with a mean comment of his own.
• During the soccer match, when one player tripped another, the coach reminded everyone that retaliating would only make the situation worse instead of resolving the conflict.
• In the story we read in class, the main character chose not to retaliate against her rival, showing that being kind can sometimes be more powerful than seeking revenge.

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