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
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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
The country’s top security official said 25 members of the National Guard were killed Sunday in reprisal attacks.
—
Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
The initiative had hardly gotten off the ground but was likely the catalyst for the arrests, a source close to the reformists told me, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
That has led to diplomatic and economic reprisals from Beijing.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Feb. 2026
That has led to Beijing’s diplomatic and economic reprisals.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reprisal
Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
The initiative had hardly gotten off the ground but was likely the catalyst for the arrests, a source close to the reformists told me, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
That has led to diplomatic and economic reprisals from Beijing.
—Arkansas Online, 19 Feb. 2026
That has led to Beijing’s diplomatic and economic reprisals.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Fortune, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reprisal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprisal
Noun
-
Even so, Newsom couldn’t help but veer left on racial politics, getting himself into hot water for stoking talk of slavery reparations in California, then having to spin his way out of it by saying reparations are about more than just dollars and cents when some monetary estimates came up.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Sticking points include claims over territory, reparations and security guarantees.—
Joanna Kakissis,
NPR,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the short term, there is retaliation.—
Angélica Durán-Martínez,
The Conversation,
24 Feb. 2026
-
According to The Hill, Murat has said her mother was detained in retaliation for her aunt's activism against China's treatment of Uyghurs.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Then came the number that echoed loudest—another $1 million in exemplary damages, which is due usually for some type of bad behavior.—
Dave Lieber
Feb. 25,
Dallas Morning News,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Court filings reviewed by CBS News said total damages eclipsed $3 million.—
Scott MacFarlane,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Incensed, Oseguera plotted revenge in 2009 and 2010 with others who were unhappy with Milenio’s new leadership and spearheaded a deadly coup.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
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The original film tells a captivating and fragmented story of Mexico City’s underbelly, exploring the harsh realities of the underworld through three interlocking narratives of hope, betrayal, and revenge.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
On Sunday, cartel operatives roamed the streets with guns, hijacking cars, ordering passengers out and setting the vehicles ablaze, authorities said, part of a wave of retribution attacks.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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Based on Araminta Hall’s novel of the same name, the series explores a crime that shatters a decades-long friendship between three women, delving into guilt, retribution, love, betrayal and life-altering compromises.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reprisal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprisal. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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