vindictive
Americanadjective
-
disposed or inclined to revenge; vengeful.
a vindictive person.
- Synonyms:
- unforgiving
- Antonyms:
- forgiving
-
proceeding from or showing a revengeful spirit.
vindictive rumors.
adjective
-
disposed to seek vengeance
-
characterized by spite or rancour
-
English law (of damages) in excess of the compensation due to the plaintiff and imposed in punishment of the defendant
Usage
What does vindictive mean? Vindictive is usually used to describe someone who’s known for frequently seeking revenge. It can also be used to describe the vengeful actions of such a person.A person described as vindictive is usually someone who holds a grudge and who always tries to get back at people who they think have wronged them in some way. Vindictive people retaliate against others for any insult or perceived slight. Vindictive people do not let things go.The word is always used negatively to imply criticism of such people or actions.Example: I’ve never seen someone so vindictive—he’s obsessed with getting back at everyone who has ever slighted him, even when it happened years ago.
Related Words
See spiteful.
Other Word Forms
- unvindictive adjective
- unvindictively adverb
- vindictively adverb
- vindictiveness noun
Etymology
Origin of vindictive
First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin vindict(a) “vengeance” + -ive
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"In my mind it could only be seen as punishment for me and a vindictive move on her part", he said.
From BBC
In addition to arguing Halligan was unlawfully appointed, both also claimed to be victims of vindictive prosecution.
From BBC
The goal of these safeguards, Lin observed, is to protect grant recipients from “‘vindictive’ or ‘punitive’” actions by the government.
From Los Angeles Times
The legal bar for proving a defendant was targeted for selective or vindictive prosecution is high.
Last week, James requested the case be dismissed on the basis of vindictive prosecution.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
