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vengeful

[venj-fuh l]
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adjective
  1. desiring or seeking vengeance; vindictive: a vengeful attitude.
  2. characterized by or showing a vindictive spirit: vengeful intentions.
  3. serving to inflict vengeance: a vengeful killing.
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Origin of vengeful

First recorded in 1580–90; shortened form of revengeful
Related formsvenge·ful·ly, adverbvenge·ful·ness, nounun·venge·ful, adjective

Synonyms

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1. revengeful, spiteful.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for vengefulness

Historical Examples

  • I knew Phorenice's vengefulness, and had a high value for her cleverness.

    The Lost Continent

    C. J. Cutcliffe Hyne

  • He hated Mead with all the vengefulness and fierceness of his race.

    With Hoops of Steel

    Florence Finch Kelly

  • A shudder shook Sally at thought of his vengefulness, his fierce strength.

    Coquette

    Frank Swinnerton

  • I say that it is just that—pride, vengefulness, hard misunderstanding!

    Foes

    Mary Johnston

  • Their vengefulness and their severe exactions caused them to lose the fruits of their victory.

British Dictionary definitions for vengefulness

vengeful

adjective
  1. desiring revenge; vindictive
  2. characterized by or indicating a desire for revengea vengeful glance
  3. inflicting or taking revengewith vengeful blows
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Derived Formsvengefully, adverbvengefulness, noun
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 vengefulness

vengeful

adj.

1580s, from obsolete venge "take revenge" + -ful. Related: Vengefully; vengefulness.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper