reprisal
noun
re·pri·sal
ri-ˈprī-zəl 
1
: a retaliatory act
2
: the regaining of something (as by recapture)
3
: something (such as a sum of money) given or paid in restitution
—usually used in plural
4
a
: the act or practice in international law of resorting to force short of war in retaliation for damage or loss suffered
b
: an instance of such action
5
obsolete
: prize
Synonyms
Examples of reprisal in a Sentence
Enemy officers suffered harsh reprisals.
The allies threatened economic reprisals against the invading country.
The hostages were taken in reprisal for the bombing.
Recent Examples on the Web
The people spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.
—
Charlie Savage, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
Psychological safety ensures that emergent behaviors are critically assessed without fear of reprisal.
—Scott Hutcheson, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Fearing reprisal, almost every major and art-house distributor passed on the film.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2025
Pasta lovers flocked to stores — one fan documented her 25-box purchase — and to the comment section of Barilla’s Instagram post about the product reprisal.
—Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for reprisal 
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Charlie Savage, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
Psychological safety ensures that emergent behaviors are critically assessed without fear of reprisal.
—Scott Hutcheson, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
Fearing reprisal, almost every major and art-house distributor passed on the film.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2025
Pasta lovers flocked to stores — one fan documented her 25-box purchase — and to the comment section of Barilla’s Instagram post about the product reprisal.
—Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for reprisal
Dictionary Entries Near reprisal
Cite this Entry
“Reprisal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reprisal. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reprisal
noun
re·pri·sal
ri-ˈprī-zəl
1
: the use of force short of war by one nation against another in return for damage or loss suffered
economic reprisals
2
: an act of getting back at especially in war
Legal Definition
reprisal
noun
re·pri·sal
ri-ˈprī-zəl
1
a
: the act or practice in international law of resorting to force short of war in retaliation for damage or loss suffered
b
: an instance of such action
2
: a retaliatory act
may not fire a complaining employee in reprisal
Etymology
Anglo-French reprisaile, reprisaille, from Middle French, from Old Italian ripresaglia, from ripreso, past participle of riprendere to take back, from ri- back + prendere to take, from Latin prehendere
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