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 + at

He angrily struck back at his critics.

Examples of strike back in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Israel has struck back against the rebels in Yemen, and the United States, Israel’s top ally, launched an ongoing campaign of strikes against them in March. —Ohad Zwigenberg and Tia Goldenberg, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2025

The union approved a strike back in August 2023, but federal railroad labor laws call for an extended process before workers actually walk off the job. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2025

Related Stories That move saw the European Union pausing its measure to strike back against the U.S. with 25-percent tariffs. —Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 10 Apr. 2025

China struck back against the U.S. on Friday, raising its duties on American goods from 84% to 125%. —Hakyung Kim,sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2025

Rhymes for strike back

• almanac
• camelback
• cardiac
• carryback
• cluniac
• diamondback
• lumberjack
• maniac
• paperback
• piggyback
• quarterback
• saddleback