# vindictive

/vɪnˈdɪktɪv/ (US) · /vɪndˈɪktɪv/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vindictive
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

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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.