strike back
phrasal verb
struck back; struck back also stricken back; striking back; strikes back
: to try to hurt someone who has hurt one or treated one badly
When he called her lazy, she immediately struck back by calling him fat.
—often + atHe angrily struck back at his critics.
Examples of strike back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Questioning edits is another tool for the president to strike back at journalists who displease him.
—
David Bauder, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2025
But the moment is fleeting, as the orchestra strikes back up, the sharp edge is dulled, the curtain falls, and audiences are left to ponder how a show so big could also say so little.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Nov. 2025
Toronto struck back in the top of the fourth.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
The Panthers struck back when Desir went on a 29-yard scamper to extend the lead to 14-6.
—Erik Anderson, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strike back
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David Bauder, Fortune, 12 Nov. 2025
But the moment is fleeting, as the orchestra strikes back up, the sharp edge is dulled, the curtain falls, and audiences are left to ponder how a show so big could also say so little.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Nov. 2025
Toronto struck back in the top of the fourth.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
The Panthers struck back when Desir went on a 29-yard scamper to extend the lead to 14-6.
—Erik Anderson, Boston Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for strike back
Cite this Entry
“Strike back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strike%20back. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.
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