Select the most appropriate synonym of the given word.

Retaliate

React

The most appropriate synonym of the given word Retaliate is React.

• Retaliate means to respond to an action with another action that is intended to hurt or harm the person who made the first action.
• React means to respond to something that happens.

The two words are similar in that they both suggest the idea of responding to something. However, the word retaliate has a more specific meaning that is focused on responding to something with the intention of hurting or harming the person who made the first action, while the word react has a more general meaning that is focused on responding to anything, regardless of the intention.

In the sentence "The country retaliated against the attack by bombing the enemy's capital," the speaker is not just saying that the country responded to the attack, but that the country responded to the attack with the intention of hurting or harming the enemy. Therefore, the word "react" is the most appropriate synonym for the word "retaliate" in this context.

The other words on the list are not as appropriate synonyms for retaliate. The word clap means to strike the palms of the hands together loudly. The word rotate means to move around a center or axis. The word facilitate means to make something easier or possible. These words do not convey the same sense of responding with the intention of hurting or harming as the word retaliate.