Word
vindictive
Phoneticsvin·dic·tive, stress on the second syllable
US/vɪnˈdɪktɪv/
UK/vɪndˈɪktɪv/
Definition
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.
Examples
“He acted in a vindictive way after losing the game.”
“The manager's vindictive response to the employee's mistake led to a formal complaint from the team.”
“The novel explores the psychological toll of a vindictive revenge plot, showing how the protagonist's quest for justice eventually consumes his own life.”
Examples
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.”
Real-World Examples
“They will be sickened and embarrassed to have a parent be so callous and vindictive.” Etymology
From Latin vindicta (“vengeance”) + -ive. Contrast Latin vindicātīvus.
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
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/vindictive