English Reference
Adjective

vindictive

adj.
C1 Advanced US /vɪnˈdɪktɪv/ UK /vɪndˈɪktɪv/ vin·dic·tive

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

adj.characterised by a desire to take revenge or cause harm to someone who has caused injury or loss. Often used to describe a person's personality or a specific action.


SIMPLE

He acted in a vindictive way after losing the game.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager's vindictive response to the employee's mistake led to a formal complaint from the team.

COMPLEX

The novel explores the psychological toll of a vindictive revenge plot, showing how the protagonist's quest for justice eventually consumes his own life.

They will be sickened and embarrassed to have a parent be so callous and vindictive.

The Guardian· 18 Aug 2026

From Latin vindicta (“vengeance”) + -ive. Contrast Latin vindicātīvus.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin vindicta
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated