hit back
phrasal verb
hit back; hitting back; hits back
informal
: to attack or criticize someone after being attacked or criticized by them
Weary of her rival's accusations, the candidate hit back with an aggressive ad campaign.
The team hit back with a touchdown of their own.
—often + atThe Senator hit back at his critics.
Examples of hit back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Trump upped tariffs on China to 145 percent earlier this month, despite offering a 90-day reprieve to other nations — prompting China to hit back with 125 percent tariffs.
—
Julia Mueller, The Hill, 1 May 2025
China, meanwhile, has hit back with 125% tariffs on U.S. products.
—Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025
Musk wasted little time hitting back at Pritzker Sunday night, reposting and commenting on a right-wing account of the speech.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2025
The European Commission hit back, accusing the ECB of being melodramatic.
—Billy Bambrough, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hit back
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Julia Mueller, The Hill, 1 May 2025
China, meanwhile, has hit back with 125% tariffs on U.S. products.
—Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025
Musk wasted little time hitting back at Pritzker Sunday night, reposting and commenting on a right-wing account of the speech.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2025
The European Commission hit back, accusing the ECB of being melodramatic.
—Billy Bambrough, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hit back
Cite this Entry
“Hit back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hit%20back. Accessed 10 May. 2025.
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