with a vengeance

Idioms

With great violence or energy; also, to an extreme degree. For example, The cottage was filthy and Ruth began cleaning with a vengeance, or December has turned cold with a vengeance. This expression was first recorded in 1533. Also see with a will.

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.

See Examples For:

with a vengeance

The worries about software stocks—the so-called SaaSpocalypse—returned with a vengeance on Friday, expanding across the tech complex to chips and other hardware plays, as well.

From Barron's ● Feb. 28, 2026

No doubt the mayor-elect is fully aware that the president could turn on him with a vengeance.

From Salon ● Nov. 26, 2025

It died there because employees hated it, but now it is back with a vengeance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 16, 2025

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 ● Sep. 25, 2025

This, a corner-of-the- mouth whisper from Adamo who hated Leon with a vengeance.

From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023