the act of returning an injury or wrong by inflicting harm or punishment
example
The country's leaders announced a swift retaliation against the enemy for their recent attacks.
synonyms
revengeretributionvengeance
word origin — from Latin 'retaliatio', from 'retaliari' meaning 'to return, reciprocate', composed of 're-' meaning 'again' and 'taliari' meaning 'to rend, tear'.
retaliation, nettle, fallacy, culvert, stratum: meanings and examples
Learn these 5 words from SAT Vocabulary Level 2 set 330. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.
retaliation · noun/rɪˈtæl.iˌeɪ.ʃən/
the act of returning an injury or wrong by inflicting harm or punishment
The country's leaders announced a swift retaliation against the enemy for their recent attacks.
Synonyms: revenge, retribution, vengeance
Origin: from Latin 'retaliatio', from 'retaliari' meaning 'to return, reciprocate', composed of 're-' meaning 'again' and 'taliari' meaning 'to rend, tear'.
nettle · noun/ˈnɛtəl/
a flowering plant of the genus urtica that has stinging hairs
Be careful while walking in the woods, as you might accidentally brush against a nettle and get stung by its hairs.
Synonyms: stinging plant, bramble, thorn
Origin: Old English 'netele', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'netel' and German 'Nessel'.
fallacy · noun/ˈfæləsi/
an error in reasoning or a misleading argument
The argument presented in the debate was based on a common fallacy, as it relied on misleading information to sway the audience's opinion.
Synonyms: misconception, delusion, error
Origin: from Latin 'fallacia', meaning 'deception, trick' derived from 'fallax', meaning 'deceptive'.
culvert · noun/ˈkʌlvərt/
a structure that allows water to flow under a road or path
The heavy rains caused the river to overflow, but the culvert under the road helped to manage the excess water effectively.
Synonyms: drain, conduit, tunnel
Origin: The word 'culvert' comes from the Old French 'couverte', meaning 'to cover' or 'to conceal', which is derived from 'couvrir', meaning 'to cover'.
stratum · noun/ˈstrætəm/
a layer or level of material or organization
The geological survey revealed several stratum of sediment, each representing a different period in Earth's history.
Synonyms: layer, level, tier
Origin: from Latin 'stratum', meaning 'a layer, bed, or covering', derived from the verb 'sternere', meaning 'to spread out, to lay down'.