Retaliatory describes an action done against someone because they have already harmed you. A retaliatory strike, a retaliatory tax, a retaliatory comment: the thing is not a first move; it is an answer. This is almost always a news, law, or politics word. You would not usually say that was retaliatory about two children in a playground; you would say they were getting back at each other. Though actually, the adjective sits on the action, not on the person — we say a retaliatory attack, not really a retaliatory person. The person retaliates; the act is retaliatory.

報復性的