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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of reprisal
Barzani’s movement collapsed within weeks, and Iraqi forces launched reprisals that displaced hundreds of thousands of Kurdish civilians.
—
John Calabrese, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2026
Casualties have been reported across the region due to Iranian reprisal attacks.
—Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 2 Mar. 2026
There were forces stopping and interrogating people celebrating in their cars but there was no gunfire, said the doctor, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.
—Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026
The witness spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
—Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reprisal
John Calabrese, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2026
Casualties have been reported across the region due to Iranian reprisal attacks.
—Ramon Padilla, USA Today, 2 Mar. 2026
There were forces stopping and interrogating people celebrating in their cars but there was no gunfire, said the doctor, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.
—Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026
The witness spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
—Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for reprisal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprisal
Noun
-
Iran countered with its own five conditions in return, including war reparations and rights over the Strait of Hormuz for Iran.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The payment of war damages and reparations.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Recent strikes on Qatar’s vast Ras Laffan natural gas processing facility, which was hit by two Iranian missiles last week in retaliation for an Israeli strike on the Iranian South Pars gas field, sent shockwaves through the global energy markets, surging already highly elevated global prices.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Iranian state media has framed the overnight attacks on Israel as retaliation for the bombing of the Natanz nuclear facility.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
While the $6 million in damages a jury in Los Angeles awarded to the 20-year-old plaintiff — which the companies vowed to appeal — will barely register on their balance sheets, the impact of the verdict will likely be more damaging and harder to quantify.—
Kurt Wagner,
Bloomberg,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The judge has final say over how much damages are awarded.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Merrill's home run robbery provided a boost early on, but McGonigle got revenge with a game-winning two-run single in a four-run eighth inning for Detroit en route to a 5-2 victory.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
These two teams swept each other on the road during the regular season, but Hicks and the Pios exacted part one of their revenge with a 2-1 overtime victory in the semifinals of this year’s Frozen Faceoff.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The person asked not to be identified for fear of retribution.—
Erika Edwards,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
-
One source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, was interviewed by two FBI agents last July at the agency’s office near Kansas City International Airport.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Reprisal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprisal. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
