vengeful

[venj-fuhl]

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adjective

desiring or seeking vengeance; vindictive: a vengeful attitude.
characterized by or showing a vindictive spirit: vengeful intentions.
serving to inflict vengeance: a vengeful killing.

Origin of vengeful

First recorded in 1580–90; shortened form of revengeful

Related formsvenge·ful·ly, adverbvenge·ful·ness, nounun·venge·ful, adjective

Synonyms for vengeful

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1. revengeful, spiteful.

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

Related Words for vengefulness

grudge, spite, malice, resentment, spitefulness, cruelty, retaliation, revenge, mercilessness

Examples from the Web for vengefulness

Historical Examples of vengefulness

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.
A Popular History of France From The Earliest Times
Francois Pierre Guillaume Guizot

British Dictionary definitions for vengefulness

vengeful

adjective

desiring revenge; vindictive
characterized by or indicating a desire for revengea vengeful glance
inflicting or taking revengewith vengeful blows

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.