Reprisal

A reprisal is an act of retaliation or revenge, often of a military or political nature, taken against an enemy or opponent in response to a perceived wrong or injury. It is typically a calculated action intended to inflict harm or disadvantage in order to deter further aggression or achieve some form of redress. Reprisals can range from diplomatic sanctions and economic boycotts to military strikes and acts of violence, often characterized by a degree of proportionality to the initial provocation. They frequently involve a cycle of tit-for-tat actions, escalating tensions and potentially leading to conflict. The key element is the use of counter-force as a form of response to some other action, typically the breaking of laws, rules or expectations. There is typically a desire to put right a situation of unfairness, or at least to deter further breaches of trust.

Reprisal meaning with examples

• Following the cyberattack on its critical infrastructure, the government launched a series of carefully targeted cyber reprisals, designed to disrupt the attackers' networks and send a clear message about the consequences of such actions. These were strategically crafted in order to limit loss of life or civilian damage.
• After the hostage situation in the embassy, the country imposed economic reprisals on the nation responsible, freezing assets and restricting trade, in an effort to pressure them into releasing the captives and preventing further escalation. The government made a statement to the media that further action was inevitable unless the hostages were freed.
• During the negotiations, the union threatened to take retaliatory reprisals against the management if there were further layoffs, including a strike and a boycott of the company's products, aiming to protect workers' rights and job security.
• The villagers, angered by the looting and destruction of their homes by the occupying forces, planned a clandestine act of reprisal, targeting a military supply depot in order to try and make the occupiers retreat. The plan was carefully crafted, with safety concerns at the fore, to limit civilian causalities.