vengeance

[ ven-juhns ]

noun

1. 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

2. an act or opportunity of inflicting such trouble:

   to take one's vengeance.

3. the desire for revenge:

   a man full of vengeance.

4. Obsolete. hurt; injury.
5. Obsolete. curse; imprecation.

vengeance

/ ˈvɛndʒəns /

noun

1. the act of or desire for taking revenge; retributive punishment
2. with a vengeance
   (intensifier)

   the 70's have returned with a vengeance

Word History and Origins

Origin of vengeance¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French; equivalent to venge + -ance

Word History and Origins

Origin of vengeance¹

C13: from Old French, from venger to avenge, from Latin vindicāre to punish; see vindicate

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. with a vengeance,
   1. with force or violence.
   2. greatly; extremely.
   3. to an unreasonable, excessive, or surprising degree:

      He attacked the job with a vengeance.

More idioms and phrases containing vengeance

see with a vengeance .

Synonym Study

See revenge.

Example Sentences

These are not the instruments of vengeance like Gaetz, Gabbard et al, who Trump wants to use to pay back his enemies.

From Salon

He can now concentrate on what really makes him happy — vengeance.

From Salon

And his vengeance will be enabled by the Supreme Court opinion granting presidents broad immunity from prosecution.

From Los Angeles Times

But the vengeance policy is what's going to animate Trump the most.

From Salon

Throughout the campaign, Trump used incendiary rhetoric – making crass jokes and threatening vengeance against his political enemies.

From BBC

Related Words

• reprisal
• retribution
• revenge

More About Vengeance

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.

Where does vengeance come from?

The first records of the word vengeance come from the 1200s. It comes from the Old French venger, meaning “to avenge,” from the Latin verb vindicāre, meaning “to protect,” “to avenge,” or “to punish.” The words revenge, avenge, vindicate, and vindictive are all based on the same root. The suffix -ance is used to form nouns.

Vengeance implies an intensity to one’s desire for revenge. It’s often used alongside words like fury and wrath in accounts of those who have been wronged in some way. The phrase “Vengeance is mine” comes from a Bible verse advising people not to seek revenge.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for vengeance?

• revenge
• retaliation
• retribution
• reprisal
• payback

What are some words that share a root or word element with vengeance? 

 

• with a vengeance
• vengeful
• revenge
• avenge
• vindictive
• vindicate

 

What are some words that often get used in discussing vengeance?

• wrath
• fury
• anger
• hatred
• seek
• vow
• plot
• sweet
• mine

How is vengeance used in real life?

The word vengeance is usually used in situations that involve serious wrongdoing, but it’s sometimes used in the context of less serious situations in order to be humorous.

Anyone with the political power to arbitrarily close a bridge in an act of vengeance against his or her political enemies has too much power

— John Yowan (@Yowan) January 10, 2014

Somebody is having a great time right now while you are sitting in a corner with a lot of hate and vengeance in your heart. Time 2 let it go

— Alex Nemo Hanse (@IamthATGreat) August 21, 2013

someone ate my greek yogurt that i just bought yesterday i am seeking vengeance and blood

— 🥸 (@vnapireweekend) November 16, 2020

 

Try using vengeance!

True or False?

The word vengeance can be used as a synonym of revenge.