reprisal
noun/rɪˈpraɪzl/
/rɪˈpraɪzl/
[countable, uncountable]- a violent or aggressive act towards somebody because of something bad that they have done towards you synonym retaliation
- They did not want to give evidence for fear of reprisals.
- in reprisal for something They shot ten hostages in reprisal for the assassination of their leader.
Collocations War and peaceWar and peaceStarting a war- declare/make/wage war (on somebody/something)
- go to war (against/with somebody)
- cause/spark/provoke/foment/quell unrest
- incite/lead/crush/suppress a revolt/rebellion
- launch/mount/carry out a surprise/terrorist attack
- prevent/halt/represent an escalation of the conflict
- be torn apart by/be on the brink of civil war
- enter/invade/occupy somebody’s territory
- lead/launch/resist/repel an invasion
- adopt/develop/implement/pursue a military strategy
- carry out/execute/perform military operations/manoeuvres
- send/deploy/station/pull back/withdraw troops
- go on/fly/carry out a reconnaissance/rescue mission
- train/equip/deploy army/military/combat units
- lead/launch/conduct a raid/a surprise attack/an (air/airborne/amphibious) assault (on somebody)
- employ/use guerrilla tactics
- conduct/wage biological/guerrilla warfare
- fight/crush/defeat the rebels/the insurgency
- suffer/inflict a crushing defeat
- achieve/win a decisive victory
- halt/stop the British/German/Russian advance
- order/force a retreat
- join/serve in the army/navy/air force
- be/go/remain/serve on active duty
- serve/complete/return from a tour of duty
- be sent to the front (line)
- attack/strike/engage/defeat/kill/destroy the enemy
- see/report/be engaged in heavy fighting
- call for/be met with armed resistance
- come under heavy/machine-gun/mortar fire
- fire a machine-gun/mortar shells/rockets (at somebody/something)
- shoot a rifle/a pistol/bullets/missiles
- launch/fire a cruise/ballistic/anti-tank missile
- use biological/chemical/nuclear weapons
- inflict/suffer/sustain heavy losses/casualties
- be hit/killed by enemy/friendly/artillery fire
- become/be held as a prisoner of war
- harm/kill/target/protect innocent/unarmed civilians
- cause/avoid/limit/minimize civilian casualties/collateral damage
- impose/enforce/lift a curfew
- engage in/be a victim of ethnic cleansing
- be sent to an internment/a concentration camp
- accept/house/resettle refugees fleeing from war
- fear/threaten military/violent reprisals
- commit/be accused of war crimes/crimes against humanity/genocide
- make/bring/win/achieve/maintain/promote peace
- call for/negotiate/broker/declare a ceasefire/a temporary truce
- sign a ceasefire agreement
- call for/bring/put an end to hostilities
- demand/negotiate/accept the surrender of somebody/something
- establish/send (in) a peacekeeping force
- negotiate/conclude/ratify/sign/accept/reject/break/violate a peace treaty
Extra ExamplesTopics War and conflictc2- She tried to persuade the soldiers that they would not suffer reprisals if they surrendered.
- The gang threatened to take reprisals against them.
- The government responded with harsh military reprisals.
- The people live in fear of political reprisals.
- Workers won't face reprisals for their decisions.
- boycotts and economic reprisals
- reprisals against witnesses for the evidence they have given
- reprisals from angry fans
- Several people were killed in further reprisals against the villages.
- They were frightened to talk publicly for fear of reprisals.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bloody
- brutal
- savage
- …
- take
- threaten (somebody with)
- suffer
- …
- attack
- raid
- in reprisal for
- reprisal against
- reprisal for
- …
- fear of reprisals
Word Originlate Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French reprisaille, from medieval Latin reprisalia (neuter plural), based on Latin repraehens- ‘seized’, from the verb repraehendere ‘seize, check, rebuke’, from re- (expressing intensive force) + prehendere ‘seize’. The current sense dates from the early 18th cent.Definitions on the go
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reprisal