What does "vengeance" mean?

1. (the act of revenge) punishment or harm given to someone in return for a wrong they did to you. 2. (with a vengeance) used to say that something happens with much more force or energy than before.

How do you use "vengeance"?

Often used with the verbs 'seek', 'exact', or 'wreak'. This sense is almost exclusively found in the fixed prepositional phrase 'with a vengeance'.

vengeance

US //ˈvɛndʒəns// UK //vˈɛndʒəns// vengeance

1 the act of revenge (n.)
C1 Advanced Literary

punishment or harm given to someone in return for a wrong they did to you.

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.

Example

The hero in the movie swore to seek vengeance against the people who destroyed his home.

Example

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'.
2 with a vengeance (n.)
C1 Advanced Informal

used to say that something happens with much more force or energy than before.

used in the idiomatic phrase 'with a vengeance' to indicate a high degree of intensity, force, or violence.

Example

After a week of sunshine, the rain returned with a vengeance.

Example

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'.

Origin

From Anglo-Norman vengeaunce, from Old French vengeance, venjance, from vengier (“to avenge”). Analysable as venge + -ance.