revenge

verb re·venge \ ri-ˈvenj \

|Updated on: 8 Jun 2018

Examples: revenge in a Sentence

Definition of revenge

revenged; revenging

transitive verb

1 : to avenge (oneself or another) usually by retaliating in kind or degree

2 : to inflict injury in return for

revenge an insult

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revenger

noun

See revenge defined for English-language learners

See revenge defined for kids

Examples of revenge in a Sentence

a man who took matters into his own hands and revenged the death of his brother

Recent Examples of revenge from the Web

Lovren was part of Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool squad that lost both home and away legs to Real Madrid in the group stages back in 14/15, and hopes to revenge past results by winning the biggest trophy in club football.

— SI.com, "Liverpool Defender Dejan Lovren Reveals Letter He Wrote Himself as a Child Ahead of UCL Final," 23 May 2018
If the Buckeyes want to revenge its 31-point loss a week ago to Iowa, however, the team may be doing so without two of its linebackers, Jerome Baker and Dante Booker.

— kevin cunningham, ajc, "Ohio State linebackers Jerome Baker, Dante Booker currently game-time decisions against Michigan State," 11 Nov. 2017
The Longhorns claimed a tough 47-40 overtime victory in 2013 that was revenged with a 38-20 West Virginia triumph two years later.

— tim griffin diehards, ajc, "Big 12 viewers guide stacked with big, interesting games in Week 12," 12 Nov. 2017
Here are the reflections of a few of the artists and technicians who pitted against one another two bastards, their vast armies and (most powerful of all) their divergent attitudes to power and to revenge.

— daniel d’addario, Time, "The Making of 'Battle of the Bastards,' Game of Thrones's Most Ambitious Episode," 19 June 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'revenge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of revenge

Middle English, from Anglo-French revenger, revengier, from re- + venger to avenge — more at vengeance

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

revenge Synonyms

Synonyms

avenge, redress, requite, retaliate;

Near Antonyms

absolve, condone, excuse, forgive, pardon, remit;

chasten, chastise, correct, discipline;

right;

compensate, pay (back), recompense, repay;

Phrases

get even (for);

revenge

noun

Definition of revenge

1 : a desire for vengeance or retribution

motivated by revenge

2 : an act or instance of retaliating in order to get even

plotted her revenge

3 : an opportunity for getting satisfaction

sought revenge through a rematch

See revenge defined for English-language learners

Examples of revenge in a Sentence

She swore that she would have her revenge.
She wants revenge against her enemies.
The bombing was in revenge for the assassination of their leader.
The team is seeking revenge for the loss earlier in the season.

Recent Examples of revenge from the Web

Trump’s vitriol could also be partly motivated by revenge against Eagles owner Jeff Lurie, who has spoken out against Trump.

— kalyn kahler, SI.com, "Eagles Un-Invited to White House as Trump Tries to Tweak NFL Again," 5 June 2018
That is, by functioning as an object lesson to learn from, as a rallying cry and connective tissue to bring people together and lift us up, to give comfort and sometimes inflict revenge.

— jonathan takiff, Philly.com, "Taylor Mac outdoes Springsteen as hardest-working headliner, in audacious Merriam marathon," 4 June 2018
And there was the fabled Splash Brother, getting some rippling revenge.

— bruce jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle, "Warriors’ Game 2 a vintage night at Oracle," 3 June 2018
He was sentenced to five years of probation, a punishment that Cruz and others critics have argued was disproportionately harsh and political revenge by the Obama administration.

— patrick svitek, star-telegram, "Ted Cruz: Pardon for conservative filmmaker suggested while traveling with Trump in Texas," 1 June 2018
The thriller, starring Logan Marshall-Green, is getting better reviews than your regular violent revenge drama.

— chris foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Shailene Woodley is 'Adrift,' Johnny Knoxville rides 'Action Point' and more at the movies," 31 May 2018
With a loss of memory, the maid will now seek her revenge by pretending to be his wife, but when will his memory return?

— guy hanford, Ramona Sentinel, "Flickers: 'Action Point,' 'Adrift' and 'Upgrade' open Friday," 30 May 2018
The show gets bonus points for the final episode, which allowed Notaro to exact some creative revenge on Louis C.K., who was credited as a producer on the series despite the her very vocal protests.

— jennifer m. wood, WIRED, "10 Great Shows You Can Binge-Watch in a Single Weekend," 24 May 2018
Viciously lively as this attack is, Roth’s true revenge on Scholem and Howe came from writing powerful novels.

— jeet heer, The New Republic, "Philip Roth, the Mandarin Joker," 23 May 2018

Origin and Etymology of revenge

Middle French revenge, revenche, from revengier, revenchier to revenge

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1547

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

revenge Synonyms

Synonyms

payback, reprisal, requital, retaliation, retribution, vengeance;

Near Antonyms

clemency, grace, leniency, lenity, mercy;

forgiveness, pardon, remission;

castigation, chastisement, correction;

desert(s), discipline, nemesis, penalty, punishment, wrath;

REVENGE Defined for English Language Learners

revenge

noun

Definition of revenge for English Language Learners

: the act of doing something to hurt someone because that person did something that hurt you
: the act of defeating an opponent who has defeated you in the past