vengeance
[ven-juhns]
- 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.
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- with a vengeance,
- with force or violence.
- greatly; extremely.
- to an unreasonable, excessive, or surprising degree: He attacked the job with a vengeance.
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Origin of vengeance
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comSynonym study
1. See revenge.
Antonyms
1. forgiveness.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
retribution, revenge, reprisal, counterblow, return, wrath, vengefulness, requital, repaymentExamples from the Web for vengeance
Contemporary Examples
But all these groups are reaching a point where vengeance takes priority over politics or, much less, public relations.
Despite a dizzying number of women coming forward against her husband, Camille Cosby refuses to sharpen her blade of vengeance.
U.S. airstrikes continue, but militants from the so-called Islamic State are still attacking with a vengeance on every front.
In January, if the GOP wins Senate control, he will go after Obama and the EPA with a vengeance.
However, there is at least a sense that security is back on the agenda with a vengeance.
Historical Examples
From this marble Phidias sculptured a statue of Vengeance, which was called Rhamnusia.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
He would avenge me, it is true, but it is not to him that I shall look for vengeance.
The White CompanyArthur 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 LawMarvin 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 BookMary Austin
vengeance
- the act of or desire for taking revenge; retributive punishment
- with a vengeance (intensifier)the 70's have returned with a vengeance
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Word Origin
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
n.
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]
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with vengeance
vengeance
see with a vengeance.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.