# vengeance

/ˈvɛndʒəns/ (US) · /vˈɛndʒəns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vengeance
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the act of revenge

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

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

For teachers: 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'.

### 2. with a vengeance

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

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

For teachers: 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'.

## Examples

- He sought vengeance against the man who lied to him.
- After years of planning, the protagonist finally achieved his vengeance by exposing his rival's secrets.
- The cycle of violence in the region is fueled by a deep-seated desire for vengeance that spans generations, making diplomatic reconciliation nearly impossible to achieve.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.