vengeance

[ven-juhns]

noun

1. 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?

   Synonyms: retaliation, requital
   Antonyms: forgiveness

2. an act or opportunity of inflicting such trouble.

   to take one's vengeance.

3. the desire for revenge.

   a man full of vengeance.

4. Obsolete.,  hurt; injury.

5. Obsolete.,  curse; imprecation.

vengeance

/ ˈvɛndʒəns /

noun

1. the act of or desire for taking revenge; retributive punishment

2. (intensifier)

   the 70's have returned with a vengeance

Word History and Origins

Origin of vengeance¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French; equivalent to venge + -ance

Word History and Origins

Origin of vengeance¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. with a vengeance,

   1. with force or violence.

   2. greatly; extremely.

   3. to an unreasonable, excessive, or surprising degree.

      He attacked the job with a vengeance.

see with a vengeance.

Synonym Study

See revenge.

Example Sentences

“All of this is vengeance against us because we refused to cooperate,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

She said the word vendetta referred to "vengeance, feud and blood feud" and that Reeves' comments had made her and her family feel unsafe.

From BBC

Just when you thought the old passions for and against the man were beginning to fade, suddenly they are back with a vengeance.

From BBC

For Jones and Dolan, that symbolism is not about vengeance or despair, but about finding a path forward.

From Salon

On the night Los Angeles police claim he carried out an act of gangland vengeance, Oscar Eagle could barely walk.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• reprisal 
• retribution 
• revenge 

When To Use

What does vengeance mean?

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. When it means the same thing as revenge, vengeance is often planned out over a period of time.The related adjective vengeful is used to describe someone who is determined to seek vengeance or someone who is inclined to seek vengeance—someone who is vindictive.The phrase with a vengeance means with great violence or intensity, as in My allergies have come back with a vengeance—I’ve been sneezing all day. Example: The vengeance in your heart will eat away at you, which is like letting your enemy defeat you yet again.