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.

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

From Salon • Nov. 26, 2025

Concerns about an AI bubble returned with a vengeance.

From Barron's • Nov. 21, 2025

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 16, 2025

Her recovery from the hallway collapse was carefully managed, and Kirby returned the following season with a vengeance - scoring 16 goals and assisting 11 more in just 18 league matches for Chelsea.

From BBC • Oct. 12, 2025

Already the heat blazed down on us with a vengeance, and we were so dehydrated our tongues felt like thick, dry parchments in our mouths.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

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