reprisal
Vengeful counter-action
A reprisal is a retaliatory action taken against someone who has harmed you or your interests.
In warfare, reprisals are acts of retaliation against an enemy: The bombing was a reprisal for the attack on the embassy.
More broadly, any punitive response qualifies: She feared reprisals from management after filing the complaint.
The word carries connotations of proportional revenge—answering harm with harm.
Offensive response to aggression
- revengePunishing a wrongdoer
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- backlashStrong negative reaction
- counterstrikeRetaliatory military action
payback · vengeance · countermeasure · counteroffensive · response · recompense · counterblow · reciprocation
Act of ending something
- demotionReduction in status
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- blackballingGroup exclusion practice
harassment · discrimination · wrongful dismissal · intimidation · reassignment · hostile environment · constructive dismissal · victimization
Approval or punitive measure
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- disciplinary actionFormal response to violations
- punitive measureAction taken as discipline
consequence · deterrent · corrective action · justice · sentence · punitive damages · embargo · trade restriction
Aircraft-delivered military attack
- bombardmentSustained projectile assault
- raidSudden armed incursion
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- offensiveCausing displeasure or attack-oriented
sanctions · blockade · sortie · incursion · shelling · assault · drone strike · tactical strike
counterattack
Offensive response to aggression
- revengePunishing a wrongdoer
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- backlashStrong negative reaction
counterstrike · payback · vengeance · countermeasure · counteroffensive · response · recompense · counterblow · reciprocation · tit-for-tat
termination
Act of ending something
- demotionReduction in status
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
blackballing · harassment · discrimination · wrongful dismissal · intimidation · reassignment · hostile environment · constructive dismissal · victimization · reporting
sanction
Approval or punitive measure
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- disciplinary actionFormal response to violations
punitive measure · consequence · deterrent · corrective action · justice · sentence · punitive damages · embargo · trade restriction · collective punishment
airstrike
Aircraft-delivered military attack
- bombardmentSustained projectile assault
- raidSudden armed incursion
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
offensive · sanctions · blockade · sortie · incursion · shelling · assault · drone strike · tactical strike · surgical strike
- counteractionscountermeasure, countermove, counterattack, counterblow, counterstrike
- vengeancerevenge, vengeance, vendetta, retribution, retaliation
- counterattackscounterattack, counterblow, counterstrike, counterpunch, counteroffensive
- retaliationrevenge, retaliation, payback, vengeance, vendetta
- retributionretribution, revenge, payback, vengeance, retaliation
- whistleblowingleak, leaker, expose, hotline, disclosure form
reprisalforgiveness
Releasing resentment toward offenders
pardon · mercy · clemency · amnesty · absolution
reprisalkindness
Considerate, caring disposition
benevolence · reconciliation · compassion · goodwill · peacemaking