Reprisal
noun
An action done to hurt or punish someone who has hurt you or your people.
The country made a reprisal for the terrorist attack by bombing the terrorists' camp.
Often appears as...
- acts of reprisal
- fear of reprisal
noun
The act of using political or military force against a country that has used force against you.
The government said that they would take reprisals if the neighboring country did not demolish their nuclear facilities.
Often appears as...
- threat of reprisal
- promise of reprisal
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
An action done to hurt or punish someone who has hurt you or your people.
The country made a reprisal for the terrorist attack by bombing the terrorists' camp.
Often appears as...
- acts of reprisal
- fear of reprisal
noun
The act of using political or military force against a country that has used force against you.
The government said that they would take reprisals if the neighboring country did not demolish their nuclear facilities.
Often appears as...
- threat of reprisal
- promise of reprisal
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Reprisal suggests negative feelings and is often associated with harm or revenge.
The workers faced reprisals for their participation in the strike.
Pro Tip 2/3Response to Harm
Use 'reprisal' when a harmful act is done in response to a previous wrongdoing.
The siblings' prank war escalated with each reprisal.
Pro Tip 3/3Fear as a Deterrent
The fear of reprisal can prevent people from acting against injustice or speaking out.
Many avoided criticizing the leader due to fear of reprisal.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Reprisal suggests negative feelings and is often associated with harm or revenge.
The workers faced reprisals for their participation in the strike.
Pro Tip 2/3Response to Harm
Use 'reprisal' when a harmful act is done in response to a previous wrongdoing.
The siblings' prank war escalated with each reprisal.
Pro Tip 3/3Fear as a Deterrent
The fear of reprisal can prevent people from acting against injustice or speaking out.
Many avoided criticizing the leader due to fear of reprisal.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Connotation
Reprisal suggests negative feelings and is often associated with harm or revenge.
The workers faced reprisals for their participation in the strike.
Pro Tip 2/3Response to Harm
Use 'reprisal' when a harmful act is done in response to a previous wrongdoing.
The siblings' prank war escalated with each reprisal.
Pro Tip 3/3Fear as a Deterrent
The fear of reprisal can prevent people from acting against injustice or speaking out.
Many avoided criticizing the leader due to fear of reprisal.
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Video examples
Richard Ledgett: The NSA...
You're probably aware that there have been a spate of those directed against the U.S. financial sector since 2012. Again, that's a nation-state who is executing those attacks, and they're doing that as a semi-anonymous way of reprisal. And the last one is destructive attacks,
Video examples
Breaking an Informant PIPE...
some of the homeboys that are still doing dirt Yancy's given the suspect a tough choice inform on his gang and risk reprisal or get deported and face the
Video examples
Richard Ledgett: The NSA...
You're probably aware that there have been a spate of those directed against the U.S. financial sector since 2012. Again, that's a nation-state who is executing those attacks, and they're doing that as a semi-anonymous way of reprisal. And the last one is destructive attacks,
Video examples
Breaking an Informant PIPE...
some of the homeboys that are still doing dirt Yancy's given the suspect a tough choice inform on his gang and risk reprisal or get deported and face the
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Jeanne Shaheen
American Politician
By protecting our Afghan friends from reprisals and welcoming them into our American family, we can assert that the United States is still a great and good country - and that we do not abandon those who risked their lives to serve with us.
Quote examples
Andy Jassy
American Businessman
When you have a sitting president who's willing to publicly show his disdain for a company and the leader of a company, it's very difficult for government agencies including the DOD to make an objective decision without fear of reprisal.
Quote examples
Richard N. Haass
American Diplomat
Russia may well be willing to stop interfering in Eastern Ukraine in exchange for a degree of sanctions relief if it could be assured that ethnic Russians there would not face reprisals.
Quote examples
William Hazlitt
English Critic
The most insignificant people are the most apt to sneer at others. They are safe from reprisals. And have no hope of rising in their own self esteem but by lowering their neighbors.
Quote examples
Moshe Sharett
Israeli Statesman
A reprisal of this magnitude... has never been carried out before. I paced back and forth in my room perplexed and completely depressed, feeling helpless.
Quote examples
Salman Rushdie
Indian Novelist
If there were Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, it makes it certain there would be a reprisal attack against the United States at some point.
Quote examples
Sam Harris
American Author
We are now in the 21st century: all books, including the Koran, should be fair game for flushing down the toilet without fear of violent reprisal.
Quote examples
Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
German Poet
Since philosophy now criticizes everything it comes across, a critique of philosophy would be nothing less than a just reprisal.
Quote examples
Ben Stein
American Actor
I always assumed scientists were free to ask any question, pursue any line of inquiry without fear or reprisal.
Quote examples
James Stockdale
American Soldier
So the first thing that went on was to decide... trying to find a time when we could get reprisal raids out.
Quote examples
Jeanne Shaheen
American Politician
By protecting our Afghan friends from reprisals and welcoming them into our American family, we can assert that the United States is still a great and good country - and that we do not abandon those who risked their lives to serve with us.
Quote examples
Andy Jassy
American Businessman
When you have a sitting president who's willing to publicly show his disdain for a company and the leader of a company, it's very difficult for government agencies including the DOD to make an objective decision without fear of reprisal.
Quote examples
Richard N. Haass
American Diplomat
Russia may well be willing to stop interfering in Eastern Ukraine in exchange for a degree of sanctions relief if it could be assured that ethnic Russians there would not face reprisals.
Quote examples
William Hazlitt
English Critic
The most insignificant people are the most apt to sneer at others. They are safe from reprisals. And have no hope of rising in their own self esteem but by lowering their neighbors.
Quote examples
Moshe Sharett
Israeli Statesman
A reprisal of this magnitude... has never been carried out before. I paced back and forth in my room perplexed and completely depressed, feeling helpless.
Quote examples
Salman Rushdie
Indian Novelist
If there were Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, it makes it certain there would be a reprisal attack against the United States at some point.
Quote examples
Sam Harris
American Author
We are now in the 21st century: all books, including the Koran, should be fair game for flushing down the toilet without fear of violent reprisal.
Quote examples
Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Schlegel
German Poet
Since philosophy now criticizes everything it comes across, a critique of philosophy would be nothing less than a just reprisal.
Quote examples
Ben Stein
American Actor
I always assumed scientists were free to ask any question, pursue any line of inquiry without fear or reprisal.
Quote examples
James Stockdale
American Soldier
So the first thing that went on was to decide... trying to find a time when we could get reprisal raids out.
Example 1 of 10
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