reprisal

noun re·pri·sal \ ri-ˈprī-zəl \

|Updated on: 17 Jul 2018

Definition of reprisal

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 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

See reprisal defined for English-language learners

See reprisal defined for kids

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 of reprisal from the Web

The prisoners spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.

— maggie michael, The Seattle Times, "Yemen demands Emirates shut down prisons where abuses rife," 9 July 2018
Iranian forces based in Syria fired 20 rockets at Israeli front-line military positions in the Golan Heights, the Israeli military said, triggering a heavy Israeli reprisal.

— thomas erdbrink, BostonGlobe.com, "Iran ‘needs nuclear power,’ supreme leader insists," 9 May 2018
Many small business owners on Lincoln Road echo similar sentiments but decline to give their names out of fear of reprisals from their landlords.

— rene rodriguez, miamiherald, "Lincoln Road keeps growing — and its small businesses keep closing," 25 June 2018
Two former members of Reed’s cabinet, who requested anonymity out of fear of reprisal, told the AJC and Channel 2 that the dinner was organized by Beard as a party, during which Reed was surprised with the watch.

— dan klepal, ajc, "Steakhouse holiday party for Mayor Reed, cabinet cost taxpayers $8,100," 20 June 2018
For more than three years, Gabriel has been criticized for his handling of embezzlement within the administration, for alleged whistleblower reprisal and for spurning congressional demands for documents and testimony.

— dennis wagner, azcentral, "Rep. Gosar seeks to cut top federal power agency boss' salary to $1 per year," 6 June 2018
Refinery29 has reached out to Witherspoon's team for comment about her reprisal of Mrs. Woods comma Elle.

— morgan baila, refinery29.com, "Legally Blonde 3," 4 June 2018
Similar conduct by other California law enforcement agencies has led to swift reprisals in court.

— james queally, latimes.com, "Muslim woman sues Ventura County Sheriff's Department, says deputies forced her to remove hijab while jailed," 8 May 2018
Syria, with allies Russia and Iran, condemned the attack and hinted at possible reprisal.

— w.j. hennigan, Time, "The U.S., Britain and France Just Unleashed 105 Missiles on Syria. Now What?," 14 Apr. 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.

Origin and Etymology of 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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

reprisal Synonyms

Synonyms

payback, requital, retaliation, retribution, revenge, vengeance;

Near Antonyms

clemency, grace, leniency, lenity, mercy;

forgiveness, pardon, remission;

castigation, chastisement, correction;

desert(s), discipline, nemesis, penalty, punishment, wrath;

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

REPRISAL Defined for English Language Learners

reprisal

noun

Definition of reprisal for English Language Learners

: something that is done to hurt or punish someone who has hurt you or done something bad to you

REPRISAL Defined for Kids

reprisal

noun re·pri·sal \ ri-ˈprī-zəl \

Definition of reprisal for Students

: an act in return for harm done by another : an act of revenge

Law Dictionary

reprisal

noun re·pri·sal \ ri-ˈprī-zəl \

legal Definition of reprisal

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

Origin and Etymology of reprisal

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