tit-for-tat
/tˈɪtfˌɔɹtˈæt/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.11 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
5
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Having the characteristic of returning bad for bad.
Example Sentences
- "Unfortunately, many adults retain a tit-for-tat attitude, but in a more refined way than the simple, childish shove for shove."
- "Amid fears that the end to more than five and a half years of talks would lead to a new era of tit-for-tat protectionism, negotiations between the United States and the European Union broke down."
- "It’s been nearly four years since China put tariffs on American-grown soybeans during a tit-for-tat trade war with then-President Donald Trump – and they remain in place despite the change in administrations."
Etymology
From tit for tat.