reprisal
noun
re·pri·sal
ri-ˈprī-zəl 
1
: a retaliatory act
2
: the regaining of something (as by recapture)
3
: something (such as a sum of money) given or paid in restitution
—usually used in plural
4
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
5
obsolete
: prize
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 on the Web
These societies inevitably fail and are never as productive and successful as countries where freedom of thought and expression are not stubbed out via fear of reprisal.
—
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 July 2025
That dream is complicated by a mob rivalry with many reprisals and corpses by the dozen.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 20 July 2025
The description of Israel’s reprisals in Gaza after the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, as genocide has been highly contentious.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 7 July 2025
Although a peace agreement appears to be holding, the latest travel advisory adds to a climate of concern about possible reprisals targeting U.S. citizens in the region.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for reprisal
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Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 July 2025
That dream is complicated by a mob rivalry with many reprisals and corpses by the dozen.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 20 July 2025
The description of Israel’s reprisals in Gaza after the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, as genocide has been highly contentious.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 7 July 2025
Although a peace agreement appears to be holding, the latest travel advisory adds to a climate of concern about possible reprisals targeting U.S. citizens in the region.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for reprisal
Cite this Entry
“Reprisal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reprisal. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reprisal
noun
re·pri·sal
ri-ˈprī-zəl
1
: the use of force short of war by one nation against another in return for damage or loss suffered
economic reprisals
2
: an act of getting back at especially in war
Legal Definition
reprisal
noun
re·pri·sal
ri-ˈprī-zəl
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
Etymology
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
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