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
- compensation
- damages
- indemnification
- indemnity
- quittance
- recompense
- recoupment
- redress
- remuneration
- reparation
- requital
- restitution
- satisfaction
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Stepan, a 41-year-old member of the IT army, spoke to ABC News but asked not to use his real name because of fears of reprisal. 
Yuriy Zaliznyak, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2022 Israel arrested one of the group’s senior commanders in the West Bank this week, leading to threats of reprisal from its Gaza leadership. New York Times, 5 Aug. 2022 That has especially been the case for donors who support controversial causes and when revealing their identity might subject them to harassment, threats, public hostility or other forms of reprisal. Lucinda M. Finley, The Conversation, 28 June 2022 There was, however, no immediate evidence that this town was targeted in an act of Russian reprisal. New York Times, 1 July 2022 The 39-year-old owns a research firm in Afghanistan that worked significantly with the U.S. government on women’s empowerment issues and asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal against the firm and his family. Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2021 Both workers requested anonymity for fear of reprisal. Eli M. Rosenberg, NBC News, 22 July 2022 Half a dozen Iranian film personalities declined to be interviewed for this article for fear of reprisal. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 13 July 2022 We will not be rendered invisible, made to hide our family pictures at our work desks for fear of reprisal if our right to gainful employment gets stripped. Allison Hope, CNN, 1 June 2022 See More
Yuriy Zaliznyak, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2022 Israel arrested one of the group’s senior commanders in the West Bank this week, leading to threats of reprisal from its Gaza leadership. New York Times, 5 Aug. 2022 That has especially been the case for donors who support controversial causes and when revealing their identity might subject them to harassment, threats, public hostility or other forms of reprisal. Lucinda M. Finley, The Conversation, 28 June 2022 There was, however, no immediate evidence that this town was targeted in an act of Russian reprisal. New York Times, 1 July 2022 The 39-year-old owns a research firm in Afghanistan that worked significantly with the U.S. government on women’s empowerment issues and asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal against the firm and his family. Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 21 Dec. 2021 Both workers requested anonymity for fear of reprisal. Eli M. Rosenberg, NBC News, 22 July 2022 Half a dozen Iranian film personalities declined to be interviewed for this article for fear of reprisal. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 13 July 2022 We will not be rendered invisible, made to hide our family pictures at our work desks for fear of reprisal if our right to gainful employment gets stripped. Allison Hope, CNN, 1 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English reprisail, from Anglo-French reprisaile, from Medieval Latin represalia, from Old Italian rappresaglia, ultimately from ripreso, past participle of riprendere to take back, from ri- re- (from Latin re-) + prendere to take, from Latin prehendere — more at get
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a
Kids Definition
reprisal
noun
re·pri·sal ri-ˈprī-zəl
: an act in return for harm done by another : an act of revenge
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
reprisals
noun
as in reparation
payment to another for a loss or injury a peace agreement that was rejected because it contained no provisions for reprisals Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- reparation
- damages
- indemnity
- settlement
- redress
- punishment
- amends
- retaliation
- compensation
- restitution
- indemnification
- recompense
- repayment
- satisfaction
- recoupment
- punitive damages
- remuneration
- reimbursement
- adjustment
- atonement
- quittance
- expiation
- refund
- requital
- solatium