get back at (someone)
idiom
informal
: to do something bad or unpleasant to (someone who has treated one badly or unfairly)
After he lost his job, he vowed that he would find a way to get back at his old boss.
Examples of get back at (someone) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Though the 1980 comedy revolves around three women who get back at their boss for his mistreatment of them and other women in the office, Fonda isn’t quite sure whether a plot like that could happen in 2025.
—
Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 23 Feb. 2025
Need a way to get back at your ex this Valentine’s Day?
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 3 Feb. 2025
This could be done by an AI developer who has become upset and wants to get back at the AI maker.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
At the glass bridge, Mi-nyeo (Kim Joo-ryung) grabs onto Deok-su (Heo Sung-tae) to get back at him for abandoning her in a previous game.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for get back at (someone)
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 23 Feb. 2025
Need a way to get back at your ex this Valentine’s Day?
—Colson Thayer, People.com, 3 Feb. 2025
This could be done by an AI developer who has become upset and wants to get back at the AI maker.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
At the glass bridge, Mi-nyeo (Kim Joo-ryung) grabs onto Deok-su (Heo Sung-tae) to get back at him for abandoning her in a previous game.
—Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for get back at (someone)
Cite this Entry
“Get back at (someone).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/get%20back%20at%20%28someone%29. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share