retaliatory
adj.describing an action that is taken to punish someone or get back at them for something they did first.
adj.intended as a punishment or revenge for a previous action. Often describes actions taken by a state or group in response to an initial provocation.
“The country's response was a retaliatory strike.”
“The trade war began when one nation imposed retaliatory tariffs on its neighbor's exports.”
“The legal team argued that the company's decision to terminate the contract was a retaliatory move designed to silence the whistleblower rather than a legitimate business decision.”
“Brazil has not yet decided whether it will proceed with retaliatory measures, but commits to defending its position.”
“North Korea has declared it must possess the capability to counter any potential enemy moves with retaliatory strikes that would make their "survival and recovery impossible", according to reports.”