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
Too few people know that journalists covering sports face reprisals for this work, which can stymie reporting and public accountability.
—
Gypsy Guillén Kaiser,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
Ukrainians say armed formations on both sides, including the UPA and Polish underground forces, were involved in attacks and reprisals that led to large-scale civilian casualties among Poles and Ukrainians.
—
ABC News,
20 June 2026
Iran’s reprisals have targeted civilians and public spaces across the Middle East.
—
Ian Crouch,
New Yorker,
18 June 2026
Hansen, a carriage horse driver herself, said the decision to stay off the streets was part heartbreak for Deniz and part fear of reprisals.
—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
And many fear reprisals from the government for speaking out.
—
Omkar Khandekar,
NPR,
7 June 2026
Candidates who challenge the powerful can draw strong but silent support, because there is open fear of reprisals from city officials against those who back any challenger to the people in charge.
—
Susan Shelley,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Global economic outlook worsens over Iran war The US and Iran appeared still willing to reach a peace deal despite American strikes and Tehran’s threats of reprisals — but the global economic fallout from the conflict deepened.
—
semafor.com,
29 May 2026
During the McCarthy era, overreaching laws, surveillance, and public and private sector reprisals ostensibly targeted alleged communists.
—
Bruce Schneier,
The Conversation,
27 May 2026
Gypsy Guillén Kaiser,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
Ukrainians say armed formations on both sides, including the UPA and Polish underground forces, were involved in attacks and reprisals that led to large-scale civilian casualties among Poles and Ukrainians.
—
ABC News,
20 June 2026
Iran’s reprisals have targeted civilians and public spaces across the Middle East.
—
Ian Crouch,
New Yorker,
18 June 2026
Hansen, a carriage horse driver herself, said the decision to stay off the streets was part heartbreak for Deniz and part fear of reprisals.
—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
And many fear reprisals from the government for speaking out.
—
Omkar Khandekar,
NPR,
7 June 2026
Candidates who challenge the powerful can draw strong but silent support, because there is open fear of reprisals from city officials against those who back any challenger to the people in charge.
—
Susan Shelley,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Global economic outlook worsens over Iran war The US and Iran appeared still willing to reach a peace deal despite American strikes and Tehran’s threats of reprisals — but the global economic fallout from the conflict deepened.
—
semafor.com,
29 May 2026
During the McCarthy era, overreaching laws, surveillance, and public and private sector reprisals ostensibly targeted alleged communists.
—
Bruce Schneier,
The Conversation,
27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprisals
Noun
-
Collective, which advocates for reparations, land returns for Native Americans, bonds for newborns and a universal basic income.
-
Calls for reparations have increased in recent years, reaching a crescendo with the UN designation in March — though the US, UK and a host of other countries either rejected the claim or abstained from voting on it.
Noun
-
In 2022, a jury awarded Depp more than $10 million in damages, while Heard won one of her counterclaims and was awarded $2 million.
-
Most kinds of lawsuit damages are taxable, including employment cases, property loss or damage, defamation, emotional distress, invasion of privacy, credit reporting and consumer cases, and many others.
Cite this Entry
“Reprisals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprisals. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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