vengeance

[ven-juhns]

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR vengeance ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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?

an act or opportunity of inflicting such trouble: to take one's vengeance.

the desire for revenge: a man full of vengeance.

Obsolete. hurt; injury.

Obsolete. curse; imprecation.

Idioms

with a vengeance,

with force or violence.
greatly; extremely.
to an unreasonable, excessive, or surprising degree: He attacked the job with a vengeance.

Origin of vengeance

1250–1300; Middle English < Old French, equivalent to vengi(er) to avenge (see venge) + -ance -ance

Synonyms for vengeance

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR vengeance ON THESAURUS.COM

1. requital, retaliation.

Synonym study

1. See revenge.

Antonyms for vengeance

1. forgiveness.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for vengeance

retribution, revenge, reprisal, counterblow, return, wrath, vengefulness, requital, repayment

Examples from the Web for vengeance

Contemporary Examples of vengeance

But all these groups are reaching a point where vengeance takes priority over politics or, much less, public relations.
Pakistani School Killers Want to Strike the U.S.
Sami Yousafzai, Christopher Dickey
December 17, 2014
Despite a dizzying number of women coming forward against her husband, Camille Cosby refuses to sharpen her blade of vengeance.
Why Didn’t Camille Dump Bill Cosby?
Amanda Marcotte
December 17, 2014
U.S. airstrikes continue, but militants from the so-called Islamic State are still attacking with a vengeance on every front.
Did ISIS Attack Kobani from Turkey?
Jamie Dettmer
November 30, 2014
In January, if the GOP wins Senate control, he will go after Obama and the EPA with a vengeance.
If You Think D.C. Is Awful Now, Wait Until Wednesday
Jonathan Alter
November 4, 2014
However, there is at least a sense that security is back on the agenda with a vengeance.
Shocked by Ukraine Violence, NATO Prepares to Face Down Putin
Leo Cendrowicz
October 12, 2014

Historical Examples of vengeance

From this marble Phidias sculptured a statue of Vengeance, which was called Rhamnusia.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
He would avenge me, it is true, but it is not to him that I shall look for vengeance.
The White Company
Arthur Conan Doyle
This was the vengeance for which she had longed, for which she had plotted, the vengeance she had at last achieved.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
God's object at that time was not the safety of the Jews, but vengeance.
A Theological-Political Treatise [Part IV]
Benedict of Spinoza
Who knew what vengeance they might take for the killing of the Padres?
The Trail Book
Mary Austin

British Dictionary definitions for vengeance

vengeance

noun

the act of or desire for taking revenge; retributive punishment

with a vengeance (intensifier)the 70's have returned with a vengeance

Word Origin for vengeance

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for vengeance

c.1300, from Anglo-French vengeaunce, Old French vengeance "revenge," from vengier "take revenge," from Latin vindicare "to set free, claim, avenge" (see vindicate).

Vengeance is mine, ... saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. [Paul to the Romans, xii:19-20]

Idioms and Phrases with vengeance

vengeance

see with a vengeance.