reprisal
Americannoun
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(in warfare) retaliation against an enemy, for injuries received, by the infliction of equal or greater injuries.
- Synonyms:
- redress
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an act or instance of retaliation.
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the action or practice of using force, short of war, against another nation, to secure redress of a grievance.
-
the forcible seizure of property or subjects in retaliation.
noun
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(often plural) retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime, such as the execution of prisoners of war, destruction of property, etc
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the act or an instance of retaliation in any form
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(formerly) the forcible seizure of the property or subjects of one nation by another
Related Words
See revenge.
Other Word Forms
- nonreprisal noun
Etymology
Origin of reprisal
1400–50; late Middle English reprisail < Old French reprisaille. See reprise, -al 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
All the while, they are going beyond the classroom to protect their pupils, experiencing exhaustion and fearing reprisals — for themselves and the students’ families.
From Salon
They live in a neighborhood with a number of high-ranking officials and were worried it would lead to reprisals.
From Los Angeles Times
Such is the level of disgust and exhaustion, the public's fear of reprisals for speaking out is beginning to evaporate.
From BBC
Iran has threatened severe reprisal if it is attacked.
From Barron's
Lately, there is an additional fear for Hersi, whose name has been changed to protect him from reprisals.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
