vendetta

[ven-det-uh]

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.

vendetta

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• vendettist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vendetta¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of vendetta¹

C19: from Italian, from Latin vindicta, from vindicāre to avenge; see _vindicate

Example Sentences

During a fringe event at Labour's party conference this week, Rachel Reeves reportedly joked the government had a vendetta against the peer.

From BBC

He also has a special vendetta against the bodily autonomy of women, especially pregnant women.

From Salon

The former sheriff has been heavily criticized for his combative personal style, pursuit of political vendettas and his handling of investigations into so-called deputy gangs deputies and other alleged misconduct.

From Los Angeles Times

He re-teamed with Pollack in “Jeremiah Johnson,” in which he played a mountain man who becomes the object of a vendetta.

From Los Angeles Times

I don’t think he, like has a personal vendetta, for Puerto Rico.”

From Salon

Related Words

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