Word
vengeance
US/ˈvɛndʒəns/
UK/vˈɛndʒəns/
Definitions
01the act of revenge
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Literary
n. punishment or harm given to someone in return for a wrong they did to you.
n. the act of exacting punishment or retribution for a perceived injury or wrong. Uncountable in its abstract sense, though countable when referring to specific acts.
“The hero in the movie swore to seek vengeance against the people who destroyed his home.”
“The protagonist's quest for vengeance consumed him entirely, leading to a cycle of violence that ultimately left both families in ruin.”
Usage
Often used with the verbs 'seek', 'exact', or 'wreak'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02with a vengeance
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Informal
n. used to say that something happens with much more force or energy than before.
n. used in the idiomatic phrase 'with a vengeance' to indicate a high degree of intensity, force, or violence.
“After a week of sunshine, the rain returned with a vengeance.”
“The flu returned to the city with a vengeance, affecting twice as many people as the previous winter's outbreak.”
Usage
This sense is almost exclusively found in the fixed prepositional phrase 'with a vengeance'.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“An unlikely hero seeks vengeance upon the corrupt figures who took everything from him many years ago.” “A magisterial fury in fuchsia, she delivered a visceral account of the final scene from Salome, running the gamut from implacable vengeance to unhinged lust.” Etymology
From Anglo-Norman vengeaunce, from Old French vengeance, venjance, from vengier (“to avenge”). Analysable as venge + -ance.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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