Acts of retaliation or revenge, especially those taken by one nation or group against another in response to perceived wrongs.
From French 'représailles,' from Italian 'ripresaglia,' from 'riprendere' (to retake), ultimately from Latin 'reprehendere' (to seize back). Originally a legal term for the right to seize property in compensation for injury.
Reprisals reveal the darker side of human justice - the ancient eye-for-an-eye principle that can escalate conflicts into endless cycles of revenge. In international law, reprisals occupy a gray area between legitimate response and prohibited revenge, highlighting the thin line between justice and vengeance.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.