represalia

reprisal

noun rreh-preh-SAH-lyah Rare

Also means

retaliation

Usage Note

Represalia is almost always used in the plural: en represalias por means 'in retaliation for'. The verb tomar represalias (to take reprisals) is the standard collocating phrase. Unlike the near-synonym venganza, represalia carries an official or organised tone, common in political and military contexts.

Examples

"El gobierno tomó represalias contra los rebeldes."

Natural Translation

The government took reprisals against the rebels.

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