reprisalre‧pri‧sal /rɪˈpraɪzəl/ noun [countable, uncountable] 
They didn’t tell the police for fear of reprisal.reprisal against There were reprisals against unarmed civilians.in reprisal (for something) Alfred was shot in reprisal for the killing of a rival gang member.
WORD ORIGINreprisal
Origin:
1400-1500 Old French reprisaille, from Old Italian, from riprendere ‘to take back’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Demonstrators surged through the capital city yesterday, ignoring threats of reprisals from the government.
- His murder was a reprisal for an injury to a rival gang member.
- Some people will not report attacks to the police for fear of reprisals.
- A reprisal for her unwillingness to co-operate last night?
- Between 1953 and 1955, the United States could have effectively destroyed the Soviet Union with little likelihood of serious reprisal.
- Business as usual was good for many; others feared reprisals from white bosses if they got too political.
- Even though they were alive, my parents were afraid to write to them for fear of further reprisals against them.
- He'd lost a cousin and some good friends in these reprisals.
- In the distance smoke rose over the old city, where Hindu mobs were massacring Sikhs in reprisal for Indira's assassination.
- It was claimed that it made rural communities vulnerable to guerrilla reprisals.
Longman Language Activatoraction that is taken in order to punish someone who has harmed or offended you
· The motive for the murder was clearly revenge.seek revenge · Members of the party are seeking revenge for the assassination of their leader.revenge attack/killing/bombing · Fearing revenge attacks, the government has sealed off the borders.
an action, especially a military or political one, that is a reaction to something that has been done by a country, government, organization etc: · Some people will not report attacks to the police for fear of reprisals.· Demonstrators surged through the capital city yesterday, ignoring threats of reprisals from the government.reprisal for: · His murder was a reprisal for an injury to a rival gang member.
revenge, especially in the form of violent actions or behaviour, for something very harmful or violent that someone has done: · Her desire for vengeance led her to shoot her daughter's murderer.· Nothing can justify the gunmens' senseless acts of vengeance.
a quarrel between two people or groups of people that has continued for a long time and during which the two sides keep trying to get revenge on each other: · The killing was the result of a long-standing vendetta over gambling profits.vendetta between: · The recent bombings may be a sign of a renewed vendetta between rival separatists.vendetta against: · One of the gang members began a vendetta against her after she testified.family/tribal/private/personal vendetta: · Ellis claims he is the victim of a conspiracy with a personal vendetta against him.
something unpleasant done because someone has done something unpleasant to you: · I didn't invite her to my party because she didn't invite me to hers. It was just tit for tat.tit-for-tat killings/bombings/raids etc: · Eight people have died in this latest round of tit-for-tat killings.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY They didn’t tell the police for fear of reprisal.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB
something violent or harmful which you do to punish someone for something bad they have done to you: They didn’t tell the police for fear of reprisal.· Business as usual was good for many; others feared reprisals from white bosses if they got too political.
They didn’t tell the police for fear of reprisal.reprisal against There were reprisals against unarmed civilians.in reprisal (for something) Alfred was shot in reprisal for the killing of a rival gang member.