REPRISAL Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

reprisal

noun

ri-ˈprī-zəl

Definition of reprisal

as in reparation

usually reprisals plural payment to another for a loss or injury a peace agreement that was rejected because it contained no provisions for reprisals

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in retaliation

the act or an instance of responding to an injury with an injury after defeating them last year in the finals, our team nervously awaited the expected reprisal by our archrivals in this year's tournament

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of reprisal To vote in free elections without a gun to their head, to walk into a balloting place without fear of reprisal decide the direction of this country. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026 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 Starring Maria Sten in a reprisal of her fan-favorite character from the mothership, Neagley will premiere with all episodes Wednesday, September 16 following the Reacher Season 4 finale. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for reprisal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reprisal

Noun

Alameda County supervisors voted Tuesday to create a permanent reparations committee for Black residents, moving a sweeping set of recommendations from study to the harder question of implementation.

— Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 1 July 2026
This vessel has a controversial past, built by Nazi Germany in 1935 as SSS *Horst Wessel*, named after a Nazi martyr, before being taken as war reparations by the US.

— Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of reparation

Noun

Moscow says the strike was retaliation for Ukraine’s 40-day campaign on Russian oil refineries and supply lines, which has fueled shortages, hit Crimea and eroded battlefield momentum.

— Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Moscow launched massive drone and missile strikes on Kyiv, killing at least 17 people in retaliation against recent Ukrainian attacks that have buckled Russia’s economy.

— Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of retaliation

Noun

In the lawsuit, Flagg is asking for injunctive relief, damages, profits and attorneys' fees, arguing Swift's use of the phrase could create consumer confusion and damage the value of her existing brand.

— Liza Esquibias, USA Today, 6 July 2026
According to the complaint, the Barbours are seeking personal injury damages for their physical injuries, and survival and wrongful death damages for Avila's estate.

— Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026

Definition of damages

Noun

Short dramas tapped into these stories of time travel, revenge, and high fantasy — and translated the narrative patterns of web novels into video.

— Lavender Au, The Dial, 30 June 2026
The opposition views the initiative, proposed by Pastef, Sonko's party, as political revenge by the former prime minister, who retains significant influence over the parliamentary majority.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 June 2026

Definition of revenge

Noun

Members of white government clubs hassled their white neighbors into political lockstep and advertised physical and financial retribution for any Black person who dared to vote.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 3 July 2026
The president has spent much of the year waging a war of retribution against Republicans who have crossed him.

— Thomas Beaumont, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026

Definition of retribution

Browse Nearby Words

reprints

reprisal

reprisals

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Reprisal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reprisal. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of reprisal

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on reprisal

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gambol

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes