If you do something to a person inreprisal, you hurt or punish them because they have done something violent or unpleasant to you.
There were fears that some of the Western hostages might be killed in reprisal.
Witnesses are unwilling to testify through fear of reprisals.
Synonyms: retaliation, revenge, vengeance, retribution More Synonyms of reprisal
reprisal in British English
(rɪˈpraɪzəl)
noun
1. (often plural)
retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime, such as the execution of prisoners of war, destruction of property, etc
2.
the act or an instance of retaliation in any form
3.
(formerly) the forcible seizure of the property or subjects of one nation by another
Word origin
C15: from Old French reprisaille, from Old Italian ripresaglia, from riprendere to recapture, from Latin reprehendere to hold fast; see reprehend
reprisal in American English
(rɪˈpraɪzəl)
noun
1. Obsolete
the forcible seizure of property or subjects in retaliation for an injury inflicted by another country
2.
the act or practice of using force, short of war, against another nation to obtainredress of grievances
3.
injury done, or the doing of injury, in return for injury received; retaliation or an act of retaliation, specif. in war, as thekilling of prisoners
Word origin
ME reprisail < MFr reprisaille < It rappresaglia < riprendere, to take back < L reprehendere: see reprehend
Examples of 'reprisal' in a sentence
reprisal
They could exist within a natural environment without fear of reprisal.
Thompkins, Peter, Bird, Christopher Secrets of the Soil (1990)
She was forced to take a new identity and move home amid fears of reprisals.
The Sun (2015)
Perhaps their fear of legal reprisals meant that they were not willing to deal with possible complications?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
None of the judges, lawyers or court officials can be named to avoid possible reprisals.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The fear of legal reprisals also means that youngsters are now growing up without any basic knowledge of what makes their homes work.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It can continue to hit what remains and to seal off its newly captured territories from journalists with little fear of military reprisals.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She initially refused to give names, claiming that she feared reprisals from those involved in the robbery.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They may know that they will not always have any impact or influence but they also know they can speak without fear of reprisal.
Atkinson, Jacqueline M Coping with Stress at Work (1988)
The fact that they could come out knowing that they were going to be faced with very brutal reprisals makes you feel tall about being human.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Many other senior doctors declined to sign it, not because they disagreed with its message but out of fear of reprisals.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
His daughter spoke anonymously, fearing reprisals and saying that she was being watched and that her telephoned was bugged by security agents.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There have been ferocious anti-government protests for a week now, and brutal reprisals.
The Sun (2013)
Couldn't it have had more to do with pots and kettles, and the fear of reprisals?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Worst of all, the villain of the piece escapes the brutal but satisfying reprisals Banks baddies usually get.
The Sun (2012)
It was hardly surprising that the Republican zone was kept on a war footing by fear of Nationalist reprisals.
Paul Preston The Spanish Civil War: Reaction, Revolution and Revenge
Many people are reluctant to discuss their political views openly for fear of reprisals, but there was a mood of gleeful defiance at yesterday's rally.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
reprisal
British English: reprisal NOUN
If you do something to a person in reprisal, you hurt or punish them because they have done something violent or unpleasant to you.
There were fears that some of the foreign hostages might be killed in reprisal.
American English: reprisal
Brazilian Portuguese: represália
Chinese: 报复
European Spanish: represalia
French: représailles
German: Vergeltung
Italian: rappresaglia
Japanese: 報復
Korean: 보복
European Portuguese: represália
Latin American Spanish: represalia
(noun)
Definition
an act of taking revenge
fear of reprisal or ostracism
Synonyms
retaliation
They believe the attack was in retaliation for his death.
revenge
in revenge for his betrayal
vengeance
She wanted vengeance for the humiliation she had experienced.
retribution
He decided to get his retribution in first.
an eye for an eye
Their philosophy was an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
counterstroke
requital
Additional synonyms
in the sense of an eye for an eye
Their philosophy was an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
Synonyms
retaliation,
justice,
revenge,
vengeance,
reprisal,
retribution,
requital,
lex talionis
in the sense of retribution
Definition
punishment or vengeance for evil deeds
He decided to get his retribution in first.
Synonyms
punishment,
retaliation,
reprisal,
redress,
justice,
reward,
reckoning,
compensation,
satisfaction,
revenge,
repayment,
vengeance,
Nemesis,
recompense,
an eye for an eye,
requital
in the sense of revenge
Definition
vengeance for wrongs or injury received
in revenge for his betrayal
Synonyms
retaliation,
satisfaction,
vengeance,
reprisal,
retribution,
vindictiveness,
an eye for an eye,
requital
Nearby words of
reprisal
repressive
reprieve
reprimand
reprisal
reproach
reproachful
reprobate
Synonyms of 'reprisal'
reprisal
Explore 'reprisal' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of vengeance
Definition
the act of killing, injuring, or harming someone for revenge
She wanted vengeance for the humiliation she had experienced.