retaliatory
adj. C1 Advanced US //ɹiˈtæɫjəˌtɔɹi// UK //ɹɪtˈælɪətəɹˌi// re·tal·ia·to·ry
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.