with a vengeance

Idioms and Phrases

With great violence or energy; also, to an extreme degree. For example, The cottage was filthy and Ruth began cleaning with a vengeance , or December has turned cold with a vengeance . This expression was first recorded in 1533. Also see with a will .

More About With A Vengeance

What does with a vengeance mean?

With a vengeance means with great intensity or violence or to an extreme degree.

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.

Sometimes, the phrase indicates that revenge is the motivation, as in After suffering a bitter loss to their rivals, they’re certain to be back with a vengeance in the rematch. 

However, the phrase isn’t commonly used in the context of revenge. Instead, it typically indicates that something is happening in an intense or violent way. Saying that it’s snowing with a vengeance means that it’s snowing very heavily. Saying that it’s storming with a vengeance means it’s storming violently.

The phrase is especially used to indicate that something is happening again or has come back even worse—likening a situation to one involving a violent revenge. Saying your allergies have come back with a vengeance means they have come back even stronger.

Example: He’s typing with a vengeance—he must be on deadline.

Where does with a vengeance come from?

The first records of the phrase with a vengeance come from the 1500s. 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.

The word vengeance implies an intensity to one’s desire for revenge. In with a vengeance, it usually just implies intensity. Unlike vengeance, the phrase with a vengeance can be used in positive situations.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for with a vengeance?

• with intensity
• to the extreme

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

 

• with 
• vengeance

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

• come back
• back
• return
• revenge

How is with a vengeance used in real life?

The phrase with a vengeance is usually used to imply intensity. It’s often used in the context of weather and health problems.

Measles has come back with a vengeance around the world in the last three years, wiping out steep declines in cases seen since the start of the new century. https://t.co/cXru01npBz

— Science News (@ScienceNews) November 17, 2020

Sorry I haven't been around the past few days, my migraines have come back with a vengeance and I've only been awake for a few hours the entire weekend 😭

— ♡ Liv ♡ (@itslivykate) November 15, 2020

Channeling my frustration into unpacking and cleaning with a vengeance.

— Ever (@eversix) April 8, 2010

 

Try using with a vengeance!

Is with a vengeance used correctly in the following sentence?

I thought I had taken care of the mold problem, but it looks like it has come back with a vengeance.