vengeance
Americannoun
-
infliction of injury, harm, humiliation, or the like, on a person by another who has been harmed by that person; violent revenge.
But have you the right to vengeance?
- Synonyms:
- retaliation, requital
- Antonyms:
- forgiveness
-
an act or opportunity of inflicting such trouble.
to take one's vengeance.
-
the desire for revenge.
a man full of vengeance.
-
Obsolete. hurt; injury.
-
Obsolete. curse; imprecation.
idioms
noun
-
the act of or desire for taking revenge; retributive punishment
-
(intensifier)
the 70's have returned with a vengeance
Usage
What does vengeance mean? Vengeance is a desire for revenge—retaliation against or punishment of someone for some kind of harm that they caused or wrongdoing that they did (whether real or perceived).It can also be used as an even more intense synonym for revenge.Vengeance often involves deep anger and a perhaps obsessive desire to get even by inflicting similar harm to the person who initially harmed the person seeking revenge. When it means the same thing as revenge, vengeance is often planned out over a period of time.The related adjective vengeful is used to describe someone who is determined to seek vengeance or someone who is inclined to seek vengeance—someone who is vindictive.The phrase with a vengeance means with great violence or intensity, as in My allergies have come back with a vengeance—I’ve been sneezing all day. Example: The vengeance in your heart will eat away at you, which is like letting your enemy defeat you yet again.
Related Words
See revenge.
Etymology
Origin of vengeance
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French; equivalent to venge + -ance
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Crowds gathered on Sunday in Iran's south to call for vengeance following the killing of Khamenei in US and Israeli attacks, Iranian media reported.
From Barron's
The worries about software stocks—the so-called SaaSpocalypse—returned with a vengeance on Friday, expanding across the tech complex to chips and other hardware plays, as well.
From Barron's
What is a rather staid drama about the weight of social expectations on a relationship becomes a dramatically unexpected game of vengeance as Jennifer and Fernando grasp at any power they have over the other.
From Los Angeles Times
He said there would be "secrets, betrayals, vengeance and perhaps one last dinner party", referring to a famous scene from series two.
From BBC
He has all the evidence he needs that his team, on their best days, when their sense of outrage and vengeance is high, can be truly outstanding.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
