as in vengeful
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Dissimilar Words
as in revenging
to punish in kind the wrongdoer responsible for
a play about a prince who struggles to avenge his father's death
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Recent Examples of avenging
David Sims, The Atlantic, 31 May 2018
Iron Man and his avenging friends are onto Phase 3 now.)
—David Greenwald, OregonLive.com, 13 June 2017
Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
Bella Ramsey takes a break from killing zombies and avenging father figures, their usual pastimes in series The Last of Us, to fool around and fall in love in Sunny Dancer, a decidedly uneven but fitfully charming, YA-skewed British comedy-drama.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
The Stars and Golden Knights played playoff series in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024 — with the Stars falling to the Golden Knights in the 2023 Western Conference finals before avenging that loss in a thrilling Game 7 win in the first round of 2024.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Klay Thompson scored 16 of his 23 points in the frame, avenging his scoreless performance in the play-in opener a year earlier with the Golden State Warriors, and Anthony Davis scored a game-high 27 points.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 1 Jan. 2026
During the installment set in Thailand, Gries reprised his role as Greg Hunt, a former lover of Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge), while Goggins joined the show as Rick Hatchett, a grifter who was set on avenging his father's death.
—Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Day is looking forward to avenging last year's loss.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
Grainier works with too many men to count, and watches as many get felled by falling logs, shot by avenging gunmen, or, in the case of one Chinese laborer, tossed into a ravine by a racist posse.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
The Eagles’ task of the week involves avenging their loss to the Giants in Week 6.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Toss in his portly stature and Hoskins was a perfect choice for the heroic plumber Mario, the avenging angel who stomps through worlds of evil turtles and living mushrooms, even if the actor was neither Italian nor American.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 31 May 2018
Iron Man and his avenging friends are onto Phase 3 now.)
—David Greenwald, OregonLive.com, 13 June 2017
Verb
In fact, everything the Bruins want to achieve remains in front of them – defending their Big Ten Tournament championship, avenging a 2025 Final Four loss.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
Bella Ramsey takes a break from killing zombies and avenging father figures, their usual pastimes in series The Last of Us, to fool around and fall in love in Sunny Dancer, a decidedly uneven but fitfully charming, YA-skewed British comedy-drama.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
The Stars and Golden Knights played playoff series in back-to-back seasons in 2023 and 2024 — with the Stars falling to the Golden Knights in the 2023 Western Conference finals before avenging that loss in a thrilling Game 7 win in the first round of 2024.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Klay Thompson scored 16 of his 23 points in the frame, avenging his scoreless performance in the play-in opener a year earlier with the Golden State Warriors, and Anthony Davis scored a game-high 27 points.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 1 Jan. 2026
During the installment set in Thailand, Gries reprised his role as Greg Hunt, a former lover of Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge), while Goggins joined the show as Rick Hatchett, a grifter who was set on avenging his father's death.
—Stacy Lambe, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Day is looking forward to avenging last year's loss.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
Grainier works with too many men to count, and watches as many get felled by falling logs, shot by avenging gunmen, or, in the case of one Chinese laborer, tossed into a ravine by a racist posse.
—Rory Doherty, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
The Eagles’ task of the week involves avenging their loss to the Giants in Week 6.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avenging
Adjective
-
That humor can become vengeful if provoked.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Since Heathcliff seems to lose all redeeming qualities after Cathy’s death, turning into a truly miserable and vengeful man, book devotees likely have a far less romantic vision of him than what is presented in the film.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
State media quoted Kim saying that any violation of the country’s sovereignty would trigger immediate retaliatory strikes.—
Will Ripley,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Locals and tourists took shelter across Mexico amid a wave of retaliatory violence after government forces killed a powerful cartel leader, with gunmen blocking highways and torching cars.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
State officials claim federal government is retaliating after failed funding cutoff attempts; feds say surge targets criminal immigrants.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Fleming eventually left the agency and sued the city, accusing Lee of discriminating and retaliating against him for conducting investigations.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Both men have a penchant for self-dramatization, are easily insulted and vindictive, and seem absent the gene for humility.—
Gail Sheehy,
Vanity Fair,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Stalcup says that after the data was stolen, it was doctored and shared by the former employee, who was vindictive about being fired for cause.—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Roebuck finished with 29 points and was punishing the Wolverines with his strength driving and drawing fouls.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The principal reportedly directed the activity to the school football field rather than punishing teens for walking out of classes.—
Jeffrey S. Solochek,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
DeMar DeRozan had 32, Russell Westbrook had a revengeful 22 and Malik Monk had 26 off the bench.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Brian Heil played Don Jose with angst and ultimately, revengeful rage as Carmen’s spurned lover.—
Marcia Luttrell,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Chater and Loewenstein believe that the government nudgers are not malevolent, but misguided.—
Rob Wolfe,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2026
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The series follows a teenage boy who forms an unlikely alliance with the Fairy Queen of Celtic lore to search for malevolent mythical creatures from around the world, among them the Yeti, Baba Yaga and a Lady Dracula — not to destroy them, but to save them from impending doom.—
Ed Meza,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Claude initially warned the unknown user of malicious intent during their conversation about the Mexican government, but eventually complied with the attacker’s requests and executed thousands of commands on government computer networks, the researchers said.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
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Here’s the Harvest Data The DNR said the charges for hunter harassment and malicious destruction of a blind were filed with the County Prosecutor’s office.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Avenging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avenging. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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