reprisal
37
8.3
- noun
- /rɪˈpraɪzəl/
- Formal
:
represalia
- Reluctant at first to pursue close relations with the United States, Pakistan feared Soviet reprisals and questioned U.S. credibility.
- fear of reprisal
- military reprisals
- face reprisals
They're allowed to make mistakes without fear of reprisal.
- They're allowed to make mistakes without fear of reprisal.
- Yes, but it very much keeps former combatants involved in the war and exposed to reprisals from the FARC.
- You should be free to say what you know is true without threat of government reprisal.
- So there's all this, this, you know, reprisals and faction going on within Rome.
- So revenge is taken by somebody who cannot engage in a reprisal immediately.
- And yet we treat them as though they're informed voluntary speech should have no reprisals on things they do the rest of their life.
Examples
-
During search operations and reprisal attacks, civilians have been assaulted and women raped.
Academic text (1995) -
Attorneys may also be risking their careers due to reprisals from a judge or the government.
Blog text (13) -
In reprisal, I have destroyed your village.
-
'We fear that the French have taken reprisals against the village.
-
If we did, reprisals would be severe.
-
You know what the reprisals will be if you succeed.
-
The very notion of violent reprisal benumbs them.
-
In 1966, Igbo military officers led a coup, which was followed by a reprisal against the Igbo.
Academic text (2008) -
Palma threatened the Hal Chedom with military reprisal if they took up arms.
Academic text (1999) -
The villagers feared reprisal after the attack on their home.
Synonyms
252
6.8
Punishing someone in return for a wrong done to you
118
5.5
Harming someone to punish them for something they did
112
5.2
Harming someone because they hurt you
87
7.5
Punishment people give because someone did something wrong and others think it is fair
12
5.8
An action done to hurt someone because they hurt you
1
9.5
Giving back a favor or returning harm in the same way
An action taken to hurt or punish someone after an unfriendly act
A hit given back after an attack
Antonyms
Compounds
- Archaic
A government paper that lets a private ship owner capture enemy ships and goods during war
How Severe
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word reprisal comes from the parts re- meaning 'again' and prise meaning 'to take', the same root you see in surprise. It began as the idea of 'taking back' and now means an act of revenge.