ENGLISH
REFERENCE

vengeful

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈvɛndʒfəɫ// UK //vˈɛndʒfəl// venge·ful

adj. feeling or showing a strong desire to hurt someone who has hurt you first. You use this to describe someone who wants to get even.

adj. characterised by a desire to retaliate against an enemy or person who has caused harm. Often used to describe a person's emotional state or a specific action taken to punish an offender.


SIMPLE

He felt vengeful after his friend stole his job.

CONTEXTUAL

The vengeful spirit of the old building was said to haunt the halls of the abandoned school.

COMPLEX

The protagonist's vengeful pursuit of the antagonist drives the plot, though the narrative eventually questions whether such a personal quest for justice is truly beneficial for society.

Synonyms
Origin

From venge + -ful.

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