as in reparation
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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Recent Examples of reprisals
The volunteer spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
—
ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
By the next evening, Saedi was dying in his father’s arms – shot in the face on the street in Tehran during a brutal crackdown on demonstrations by Iranian security forces, according to a relative inside Iran who spoke to CNN anonymously for fear of reprisals.
—Jomana Karadsheh, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026
Still, the possibility that educators could face state reprisals has prompted districts to take a stricter line.
—Jeffrey S. Solochek, Sun Sentinel, 25 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
That has led to Beijing’s diplomatic and economic reprisals.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Dawson’s ended its run in 2003; Van Der Beek, having achieved something at the start of his career that most actors spend their lives pursuing, might have gone on to seek lucrative reprisals of his famous role.
—Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
The six-episode season streams E4 this week with Wallace uncovering vicious reprisals in Bilbao, Spain’s sunny resort area.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
By the next evening, Saedi was dying in his father’s arms – shot in the face on the street in Tehran during a brutal crackdown on demonstrations by Iranian security forces, according to a relative inside Iran who spoke to CNN anonymously for fear of reprisals.
—Jomana Karadsheh, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026
Still, the possibility that educators could face state reprisals has prompted districts to take a stricter line.
—Jeffrey S. Solochek, Sun Sentinel, 25 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
That has led to Beijing’s diplomatic and economic reprisals.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Dawson’s ended its run in 2003; Van Der Beek, having achieved something at the start of his career that most actors spend their lives pursuing, might have gone on to seek lucrative reprisals of his famous role.
—Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
The six-episode season streams E4 this week with Wallace uncovering vicious reprisals in Bilbao, Spain’s sunny resort area.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprisals
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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Reprisals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprisals. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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