revengeful
/ri'vendʤful/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Disposed to seek revenge: Having or showing a strong desire to harm someone in return for a perceived wrong or injury.
- Characterized by or involving a desire for vengeance: Describing an action, feeling, or nature that is motivated by revenge.
Usage and Examples
As an adjective describing a person:
- After the betrayal, he became bitter and revengeful.
- The villain in the story is a cunning and revengeful character.
As an adjective describing a feeling or intent:
- She gave him a revengeful glare, promising retribution with her eyes.
- His actions were driven by a revengeful desire to see his rival fail.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- Literary/Formal Tone: The word "revengeful" is more common in literary or formal contexts than in everyday conversation. It often describes a deep, lasting, and obsessive desire for vengeance.
- "Revengeful" vs. "Vengeful": These are very close synonyms. "Vengeful" is slightly more common in modern usage, but both convey the same core meaning of being filled with a desire for revenge.
Variants and Related Words
- Revenge (n/v): The act of retaliating for a wrong; to inflict harm in return for harm received.
- He sought revenge for the insult.
- Revengefully (adv): In a manner characterized by a desire for revenge.
- He swore revengefully that he would make them pay.
Synonyms
- Vengeful: Seeking to harm someone in return for a wrongdoing.
- Vindictive: Having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge.
- Retaliatory: Involving a reaction to an attack or wrong with a corresponding one.
Antonyms
- Forgiving: Willing to pardon an offense or overlook a wrong.
- Merciful: Showing or exercising mercy; compassionate.
- Magnanimous: Generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person.
Idioms and Phrases
- To be bent on revenge: To be determined to get revenge.
- After the unfair dismissal, he was bent on revenge.
- A revengeful spirit: A state of mind obsessed with getting even.
- The feud was fueled by the revengeful spirits of both families.
Adjective
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disposed to seek revenge or intended for revenge
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more vindictive than jealous love- Shakespeare
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punishments...essentially vindictive in their nature- M.R.Cohen
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