vengeful

adjective

venge·​ful ˈvenj-fəl How to pronounce vengeful (audio)
: revengeful: such as
a
: seeking to avenge
b
: serving to gain vengeance
vengefully adverb
vengefulness noun

Examples of vengeful in a Sentence

The robbery was committed by a vengeful former employee. The fire was a vengeful act of destruction.
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.
And while the mechanics of that don’t precisely make sense, some emotional exposition helps: turns out, the people of Motunui used to be connected to many other islands, cultures, and communities, but an evil and vengeful god sank the island that served as the mystical channel between them all. Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 26 Nov. 2024 In the wake of [the] election, progressive women, who are outraged over Donald Trump’s victory at the ballot box, have taken to social media with public, vengeful vows of chastity. John Kenney, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024 While Trump’s choice of Gaetz to lead the Justice Department is a clear sign that his second administration will be catastrophically chaotic, vengeful and corrupt, that should never have been in doubt. Michelle Goldberg, The Mercury News, 19 Nov. 2024 On the other hand, a little back-channeling and olive-branch-extending could give business leaders and their companies some goodwill in an administration helmed by a notoriously impulsive, vengeful leader. Allison Morrow, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vengeful 

Word History

Etymology

venge + -ful entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vengeful was circa 1586

Dictionary Entries Near vengeful

Cite this Entry

“Vengeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vengeful. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

vengeful

adjective
venge·​ful ˈvenj-fəl How to pronounce vengeful (audio)
: wanting revenge
vengefully adverb
vengefulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on vengeful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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