vendetta

noun

ven·​det·​ta ven-ˈde-tə How to pronounce vendetta (audio)
1
2
: an often prolonged series of retaliatory, vengeful, or hostile acts or exchange of such acts
waged a personal vendetta against those who opposed his nomination

Did you know?

Vendetta has been getting even in English since the 19th century, when it first was used to refer to feuds between different clans or families. It later extended in meaning to cover acts that are known to feature in feuds of all kinds. English speakers borrowed vendetta, spelling and all, from Italian, in which it means "revenge." It ultimately traces to the Latin verb vindicta, of the same meaning. That Latin word is also in the family tree of many other English terms related to getting even, including avenge, revenge, vengeance, vindicate, and vindictive.

Examples of vendetta in a Sentence

He waged a personal vendetta against his rivals in the Senate.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Additionally, making threats about recording their son crying sounds like a personal vendetta rather than her genuinely being concerned about his well-being. Essence, 2 Sep. 2025 The Tulane football team came away with a dominant 23-3 victory over Northwestern Saturday, but the Green Wave admittedly had a personal vendetta against their opponent. Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 30 Aug. 2025 Anto, a Parisian cop of Corsican origin, swore as a child to his brother – killed in a vendetta – to break the cycle of vengeance that has plagued their family for generations. Ed Meza, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025 Sure enough, the quiet is shattered when a new villain rolls into town in the form of Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa), a chaotic, fashion-forward maniac with a personal vendetta and a flair for over-the-top drama. EW.com, 24 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vendetta

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, "retribution, revenge, blood feud," going back to Latin vindicta — more at vindictive

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of vendetta was in 1855

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Vendetta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vendetta. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

vendetta

noun
ven·​det·​ta ven-ˈdet-ə How to pronounce vendetta (audio)
1
: a feud between different families
2
: a series of acts marked by bitter hostility and motivated by a desire for revenge
waged a personal vendetta against those who opposed his candidacy
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!