vendetta

American  

[ven-det-uh] / vɛnˈdɛt ə /

noun

1. a private feud in which the members of the family of a murdered person seek to avenge the murder by killing the slayer or one of the slayer's relatives, especially such vengeance as once practiced in Corsica and parts of Italy.

2. any prolonged and bitter feud, rivalry, contention, or the like.

   a political vendetta.

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vendetta British  

/ vɛnˈdɛtə /

noun

1. a private feud, originally between Corsican or Sicilian families, in which the relatives of a murdered person seek vengeance by killing the murderer or some member of his family

2. any prolonged feud, quarrel, etc

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Other Word Forms

• vendettist noun

Etymology

Origin of vendetta

First recorded in 1850–55; from Italian, from Latin vindicta “vengeance”; vindictive

Example Sentences

A representative for Combs criticized Netflix in a statement for “handing creative control” of the documentary to “a longtime adversary with a personal vendetta.”

From The Wall Street Journal

He also said it was "staggering" that Netflix had given creative control to 50 Cent, who he described as "a longtime adversary with a personal vendetta".

From BBC

But there is a Venn diagram to his vendettas, an overlap in his circle of obsessions.

From Salon

The lawsuit alleges that Dr. Tidmarsh used his FDA position to continue a “personal vendetta” against Mr. Tang.

From The Wall Street Journal

Regardless, the series picks up steam, propulsion and speed once a viewer gets past the establishment of all the characters and their vendettas.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bickering
• grudge
• hostility
• quarrel
• revenge
• rivalry
• squabble