Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Not having been avenged: "unrevenged" describes a situation where a wrong, injury, or insult has not been retaliated against or punished. It applies to a person, action, or event that remains without retribution or satisfaction from vengeance.
   • In sports (rare): A match or defeat that has not been "avenged" by a later victory, meaning the losing side has not yet won a rematch to compensate for the earlier loss.

Usage Examples

• (The murder was never punished or retaliated against.)
• (The loss had not been compensated by a later victory.)

Advanced Usage

• "to leave unrevenged": to choose not to seek retribution for an offense.

  • He decided to leave the insult unrevenged, preferring peace over conflict. (He deliberately did not retaliate.)

• "to remain unrevenged": to persist in a state without vengeance.

  • The ancient grievance remained unrevenged, passed down through generations. (The wrong was never avenged over time.)

Variants and Related Words

• Revenge (n): the act of inflicting harm in return for a wrong.
  • She sought revenge for the betrayal. (She wanted to punish the betrayer.)
• Avenged (adj): having received retribution.
  • The hero's death was avenged by his comrades. (The hero's comrades retaliated.)

Synonyms

• Unavenged: the exact synonym, meaning not retaliated against.
  • The crime went unavenged for years. (No punishment was carried out.)
• Unredressed: not corrected or compensated for a wrong (formal).
  • The injustice remained unredressed. (No remedy was provided.)

Related Idioms

• "To let bygones be bygones": to decide not to seek revenge or hold a grudge.
  • He chose to let bygones be bygones, leaving the slight unrevenged. (He forgave the offense without retaliation.)
• "To turn the other cheek": to respond to an insult without seeking vengeance.
  • She turned the other cheek, letting the insult go unrevenged. (She accepted the offense peacefully.)

Additional Notes

• "Unrevenged" is a formal or literary word, often found in historical texts, epic poetry, or discussions of honor and justice. It is rarely used in everyday conversation, where "unavenged" or phrases like "not avenged" are more common.