vindictive
adjective
vin·dic·tive
vin-ˈdik-tiv 
vindictively
adverb
vindictiveness
noun
Examples of vindictive in a Sentence
Well, maybe actually waging vendettas is a bad idea, but to be known for your vindictiveness can be a great advantage, for then people will take care not to cross you. And maybe the surest way of acquiring a reputation for vindictiveness is actually to be vindictive.
—
David Papineau, New York Times Book Review, 11 May 1997
And though his [John Simon's] caustic wit can sometimes sound more personally vindictive than objectively critical, it allows him to plow through a lot of literary pretentiousness.
—Andrea Barnet, New York Times Book Review, 19 Mar. 1989
The bear, seen in many aspects as humanlike, was subject to ambivalent attitudes: mainly, he was seen as a stand-in for benevolent supernaturals, but sometimes also as a dangerous and at times a vindictive and harmful one.
—William W. Fitzhugh & Aron Crowell, Crossroads of Continents, 1988
A machine gun lashed at him from across the river. … In the darkness, it spat a vindictive white light like an acetylene torch, and its sound was terrifying.
—Norman Mailer, The Naked and the Dead, 1948
In observing so long a silence I have been influenced much more by a vindictive purpose,—a purpose to punish you for your suspicion that I could possibly feel myself hurt or offended by any critical suggestion of yours …
—William Cowper 26 Feb. 1791,
in William Cowper's Letters, Edward Verrall Lucas, editor, 1924
It is not true that suffering ennobles the character; happiness does that sometimes, but suffering, for the most part, makes men petty and vindictive.
—W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, 1919
be careful not to annoy the vindictive old woman who lives down the street
David Papineau, New York Times Book Review, 11 May 1997
And though his [John Simon's] caustic wit can sometimes sound more personally vindictive than objectively critical, it allows him to plow through a lot of literary pretentiousness.
—Andrea Barnet, New York Times Book Review, 19 Mar. 1989
The bear, seen in many aspects as humanlike, was subject to ambivalent attitudes: mainly, he was seen as a stand-in for benevolent supernaturals, but sometimes also as a dangerous and at times a vindictive and harmful one.
—William W. Fitzhugh & Aron Crowell, Crossroads of Continents, 1988
A machine gun lashed at him from across the river. … In the darkness, it spat a vindictive white light like an acetylene torch, and its sound was terrifying.
—Norman Mailer, The Naked and the Dead, 1948
In observing so long a silence I have been influenced much more by a vindictive purpose,—a purpose to punish you for your suspicion that I could possibly feel myself hurt or offended by any critical suggestion of yours …
—William Cowper 26 Feb. 1791,
in William Cowper's Letters, Edward Verrall Lucas, editor, 1924
It is not true that suffering ennobles the character; happiness does that sometimes, but suffering, for the most part, makes men petty and vindictive.
—W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, 1919
be careful not to annoy the vindictive old woman who lives down the street
Recent Examples on the Web
That timeline is a key part of the argument Smartmatic laid out in its March 10 filing, which is asking the court to dismiss the charges as amounting to unlawfully vindictive against the company.
—Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
That was the Harvey that many people remember — crude, profane and vindictive.
—Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
The voting machine company asked a judge to dismiss foreign bribery charges filed against it last year, alleging a vindictive and selective prosecution.
—Jeremy Roebuck, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Defendants face a high bar for successfully proving a prosecution is vindictive.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vindictive
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Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
That was the Harvey that many people remember — crude, profane and vindictive.
—Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
The voting machine company asked a judge to dismiss foreign bribery charges filed against it last year, alleging a vindictive and selective prosecution.
—Jeremy Roebuck, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2026
Defendants face a high bar for successfully proving a prosecution is vindictive.
—Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vindictive
Cite this Entry
“Vindictive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vindictive. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
vindictive
adjective
vin·dic·tive
vin-ˈdik-tiv
1
: likely to seek revenge
a vindictive person
2
: intended to cause pain or anguish : spiteful
vindictive remarks
vindictively
adverb
vindictiveness
noun
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