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re·venge | \ ri-ˈvenj 
\
\revenged; revenging
Definition of revenge
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : to avenge (oneself or another) usually by retaliating in kind or degree
2 : to inflict injury in return for
revenge an insult
revenge
nounDefinition of revenge (Entry 2 of 2)
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
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Examples of revenge in a Sentence
Verb
a man who took matters into his own hands and revenged the death of his brother Noun
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.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Hong Kongers also marked the student’s death with vigils over the weekend, and are calling upon one another to revenge his death.
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Tripti Lahiri, Quartz, "Hong Kong police shoot more protesters in a city still grieving a protest death," 10 Nov. 2019 Falsely accused of a crime and shipped off to a convict colony in Australia, barber Sweeney returns to 19th-century London determined to be revenged on those who did him wrong — costing him his wife and daughter.
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Matthew J. Palm, orlandosentinel.com, "In CFCArts’ ‘Sweeney Todd,’ David Lowe winningly serves up vengeance | Review," 20 Oct. 2019 Others are exposed to revenge attacks from embittered neighbours or Syria’s many unruly militias.
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The Economist, "Politicians are stoking anti-refugee sentiment in Lebanon," 22 Aug. 2019 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Daniel D’addario, Time, "The Making of 'Battle of the Bastards,' Game of Thrones's Most Ambitious Episode," 19 June 2016 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Many of them had reacted with indignation during the Senate trial when Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, the lead prosecutor, suggested Trump would be out for revenge against the lawmakers who crossed him during impeachment.
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Nancy Benac, BostonGlobe.com, "Acquittal, then retribution: Trump ousts two who testified in impeachment," 7 Feb. 2020 Many of them had reacted with indignation during the Senate trial when Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, the lead prosecutor, suggested Trump would be out for revenge against the lawmakers who crossed him during impeachment.
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Deb Riechmann, Anchorage Daily News, "Payback: Trump ousts officials who testified on impeachment," 7 Feb. 2020 One group, Nakam, which is Hebrew for revenge, formed to seek vengeance after World War II ended and little, if anything, happened to punish those who were directly responsible for the deaths of 6 million Jews.
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Sarah Midkiff, refinery29.com, "The True Story Behind Jordan Peele & Amazon’s 1970s Conspiracy Thriller Hunters," 3 Feb. 2020 Republicans would be out for revenge, and instead of a halcyon return to normalcy, our politics would be even more poisonous than before.
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Rich Lowry, National Review, "Removal Would Be Insane," 24 Jan. 2020 The noble people of Iran, who love America, deserve a government that will help them achieve their dreams, rather than focusing on killing them for revenge.
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Zachary Halaschak, Washington Examiner, "'Put aside the terrorists': Trump responds to Khamenei in Farsi," 17 Jan. 2020 Later, Han crowds gathered in the streets, hungry for revenge.
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The Economist, "A report from Xinjiang Many Han Chinese don’t mind the gulag for their Uighur neighbours," 9 Jan. 2020 These military actions are not sufficient (for revenge).
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Dallas News, "Iran strikes back at U.S. with missile attack at two bases in Iraq," 8 Jan. 2020 Interspersed with the mourning were increasingly specific calls for revenge against the U.S., which killed Soleimani last Thursday with a drone strike outside Iraq's Baghdad International Airport.
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TheWeek, "Iran suggests Soleimani revenge attacks will target U.S. troops, maybe Israel," 7 Jan. 2020
See MoreThese 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.
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More Definitions for revenge
revenge
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of revenge
: 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
See the full definition for revenge in the English Language Learners Dictionary
revenge
verbre·venge | \ ri-ˈvenj \
\revenged; revenging
Kids Definition of revenge
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to cause harm or injury in return for
He'll revenge the insult.
revenge
nounKids Definition of revenge (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : an act or instance of causing harm or injury in return for a wrong
… she would be instrumental in helping the rat work his revenge.— Kate DiCamillo, The Tale of Despereaux
2 : a desire to cause harm or injury in return for a wrong
She was motivated by revenge.
3 : a chance for getting satisfaction
The team sought revenge through a rematch.
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Comments on revenge
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The first known use of revenge was in the 14th century
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