retaliation
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retaliation
An action carried out as revenge or punishment for a wrong or attack suffered. 'Vergeltung' (retaliation) aims to pay someone back in kind.
Als Akt der Vergeltung für den Angriff bombardierte die Armee feindliche Stellungen.
As an act of retaliation for the attack, the army bombed enemy positions.
to retaliate
A fixed expression meaning to take revenge for something or to take a countermeasure as punishment.
Er schwor, für die erlittene Demütigung Vergeltung zu üben.
He swore to retaliate for the humiliation he had suffered.
'Vergeltung' (retaliation) is the noun form of the verb 'vergelten' (to repay/retaliate). 'Vergelten' means to pay someone back for something, usually in a negative sense as a reaction to a bad deed.
Er wollte das ihm angetane Unrecht vergelten.
He wanted to repay the wrong that had been done to him.
'Vergeltung' (retaliation) is a strong and formal word. It is used for serious acts of revenge or military counterattacks, not for small everyday arguments.
Der Angriff wurde als brutaler Akt der Vergeltung beschrieben.
The attack was described as a brutal act of retaliation.
Pay attention to the prepositions: 'aus Vergeltung' (out of retaliation) describes the motive for an action, while 'als Vergeltung' (as retaliation) describes the function of the action.
Er handelte aus reiner Vergeltung.
He acted out of pure retaliation.
The most common use is the fixed expression 'Vergeltung üben' (to retaliate). It can be expanded with a preposition: 'Vergeltung für etwas üben' (to retaliate for something).
Die Gruppe schwor, für den Angriff Vergeltung zu üben.
The group swore to retaliate for the attack.
revenge
Both words refer to a reaction to a wrong suffered or an attack. Rache sounds more personal and emotional, while Vergeltung sounds more formal and refers more strongly to a countermeasure based on the principle of “an eye for an eye.” Rache is suitable when there is a personal motive; Vergeltung fits a more factual description of the counterreaction.
Die Regierung drohte nach dem Angriff mit Vergeltung.
After the attack, the government threatened retaliation.
Seine Rache an dem Mann war von großer persönlicher Wut geprägt.
His revenge against the man was driven by intense personal anger.
