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
China hit back immediately with export controls on minerals used in industrial processes.
—
Carlie Procell, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
Beijing has hit back against the tariffs, announcing on Tuesday a broad package of economic measures targeting the US, which will go into effect next week.
—Hassan Tayir, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025
José Raúl Mulino, the President of Panama, hit back.
—Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
As the toll from nearly three years of war has climbed, Ukraine has been building its arsenal of missiles and long-range drones to hit back.
—Cassandra Vinograd, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hit back
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Carlie Procell, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025
Beijing has hit back against the tariffs, announcing on Tuesday a broad package of economic measures targeting the US, which will go into effect next week.
—Hassan Tayir, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025
José Raúl Mulino, the President of Panama, hit back.
—Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
As the toll from nearly three years of war has climbed, Ukraine has been building its arsenal of missiles and long-range drones to hit back.
—Cassandra Vinograd, New York Times, 18 Jan. 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 27 Feb. 2025.
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