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
Buchholz strikes back with a 40-yard TD pass from Trace Johnson to Justin Williams.
—
Staff Reports, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Dec. 2024
China Issues Warning to Trump Over Tariffs: 'No One Will Win'
By Shannon McDonagh
Freelance News Reporter
61
China has struck back at U.S. trade restrictions by banning exports of gallium, germanium, and other high-tech materials essential for advanced manufacturing and military technology.
—Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
This time, regardless of whether the Iranian attack is effective, Israel will be eager to strike back, former U.S. and Israeli officials said.
—NBC News, 2 Oct. 2024
After a series of setbacks and confrontations with a system stacked against him, Reuben strikes back at the police and government that forgot him.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for strike back 
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.
Staff Reports, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Dec. 2024
China Issues Warning to Trump Over Tariffs: 'No One Will Win'
By Shannon McDonagh
Freelance News Reporter
61
China has struck back at U.S. trade restrictions by banning exports of gallium, germanium, and other high-tech materials essential for advanced manufacturing and military technology.
—Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
This time, regardless of whether the Iranian attack is effective, Israel will be eager to strike back, former U.S. and Israeli officials said.
—NBC News, 2 Oct. 2024
After a series of setbacks and confrontations with a system stacked against him, Reuben strikes back at the police and government that forgot him.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 24 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for strike back
Dictionary Entries Near strike back
Cite this Entry
“Strike back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strike%20back. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share