1
as in reparation
usually reprisals plural
payment to another for a loss or injury
a peace agreement that was rejected because it contained no provisions for reprisals
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in retaliation
the act or an instance of responding to an injury with an injury
after defeating them last year in the finals, our team nervously awaited the expected reprisal by our archrivals in this year's tournament
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of reprisal
Hansen, a carriage horse driver herself, said the decision to stay off the streets was part heartbreak for Deniz and part fear of reprisals.
—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
And many fear reprisals from the government for speaking out.
—
Omkar Khandekar,
NPR,
7 June 2026
Candidates who challenge the powerful can draw strong but silent support, because there is open fear of reprisals from city officials against those who back any challenger to the people in charge.
—
Susan Shelley,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
The young father, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said the driver seemed to follow him down an alley off Pico Boulevard.
—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for reprisal
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
And many fear reprisals from the government for speaking out.
—
Omkar Khandekar,
NPR,
7 June 2026
Candidates who challenge the powerful can draw strong but silent support, because there is open fear of reprisals from city officials against those who back any challenger to the people in charge.
—
Susan Shelley,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
The young father, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said the driver seemed to follow him down an alley off Pico Boulevard.
—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for reprisal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprisal
Noun
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Collective, which advocates for reparations, land returns for Native Americans, bonds for newborns and a universal basic income.
-
Calls for reparations have increased in recent years, reaching a crescendo with the UN designation in March — though the US, UK and a host of other countries either rejected the claim or abstained from voting on it.
Noun
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Moscow says the strike was retaliation for Ukraine’s 40-day campaign on Russian oil refineries and supply lines, which has fueled shortages, hit Crimea and eroded battlefield momentum.
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Moscow launched massive drone and missile strikes on Kyiv, killing at least 17 people in retaliation against recent Ukrainian attacks that have buckled Russia’s economy.
Noun
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In 2022, a jury awarded Depp more than $10 million in damages, while Heard won one of her counterclaims and was awarded $2 million.
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Most kinds of lawsuit damages are taxable, including employment cases, property loss or damage, defamation, emotional distress, invasion of privacy, credit reporting and consumer cases, and many others.
Noun
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Short dramas tapped into these stories of time travel, revenge, and high fantasy — and translated the narrative patterns of web novels into video.
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The opposition views the initiative, proposed by Pastef, Sonko's party, as political revenge by the former prime minister, who retains significant influence over the parliamentary majority.
Noun
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Members of white government clubs hassled their white neighbors into political lockstep and advertised physical and financial retribution for any Black person who dared to vote.
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The president has spent much of the year waging a war of retribution against Republicans who have crossed him.
Cite this Entry
“Reprisal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprisal. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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