reprisal

noun

re·pri·sal | \ ri-ˈprī-zəl

Definition of reprisal

1a : 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 obsolete : prize

3 : the regaining of something (as by recapture)

4 : something (such as a sum of money) given or paid in restitution —usually used in plural

5 : a retaliatory act

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about reprisal

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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

Like the other witnesses quoted in this story, her full name is being withheld by the Inquirer and Daily News at the request of activists who say the witnesses may face potential reprisals. — Jeremy Roebuck, Philly.com, "Ex-child soldiers say Delco man turned them into killers," 19 June 2018 West, however, has yet to face such industry reprisals. — August Brown, latimes.com, "Could Kanye West's latest backlash put his career in the sunken place?," 9 May 2018 An incorrect utterance can lead to swift, career-ending reprisals. — Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, "If America Is Divided, So Is Europe," 6 July 2018 Deadline reports that the show's original cast will also return for the reprisal. — Eileen Reslen, Country Living, "Fox Just Announced the 'Last Man Standing' Premiere Date," 28 June 2018 Peter Navarro, assistant to the president for trade and manufacturing policy, has penned an op-ed for The New York Times making a strident case for a much more aggressive reprisals against America’s trading partners, including longstanding allies. — Jeet Heer, The New Republic, "Top Trump advisor is itching to escalate trade war.," 8 June 2018 This led to massive reprisals against Rohingya people at large. — Jay Nordlinger, National Review, "Horror in Burma," 13 Feb. 2018 Public processes undertaken by the victims and perpetrators like this could be a more constructive outlet for reprisals against decades of injustice than the current hodgepodge accuse-and-destroy or pass-along-rumors method. — Belinda Luscombe, Time, "A Radical Idea for Predatory Men: Confession, then Amnesty," 16 Jan. 2018 When a sailor threatened to report him as a smuggler, Arnold led a gang that inflicted a lashing in reprisal. — William Anthony Hay, WSJ, "‘The Tragedy of Benedict Arnold’ and ‘Turncoat’ Review: His Own Worst Enemy," 24 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reprisal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for reprisal

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

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