REVENGEFUL Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

revengeful

adjective

ri-ˈvenj-fəl

Definition of revengeful

as in vengeful

likely to seek revenge the minister urged his congregation to be less revengeful and more forgiving in spirit

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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.

Recent Examples of revengeful 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 This latest installment finds the Sully family grieving one of their own when a new threat emerges in the form of the Fire tribe, an antagonistic group of Na’vi volcano-dwellers led by the revengeful Varang (Oona Chaplin in her franchise debut). — Jack Dunn, Variety, 2 Dec. 2025 Eventually, this revengeful streak will result in loneliness and isolation. — Nicole Froio, refinery29.com, 29 Oct. 2024 Artemis was revengeful toward anyone who trespassed in wild nature, and trespassing could mean neglect, like not paying your dues. — Robert Sullivan, Vogue, 20 June 2023 The club came back with wins over Heights Norhill and a revengeful victory over Post Oak on Sunday, but leaving the bases loaded three times is going to all but ruin any team’s hopes for a big win. — Robert Avery, Houston Chronicle, 9 July 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for revengeful

Adjective

In the absence of that administrative work and with little progress being made on the various biosafety laws that have been proposed in Congress, the nation has been left with just the vengeful spectacle of lab-leak prosecutions.

— Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
Familial drama ensues as betrayal runs rampant and Casillas embarks on a vengeful crusade against his enemies to regain and avenge the death of his love interest.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

Definition of vengeful

Adjective

Brennan argues the records are vital to a potential vindictive-prosecution defense, citing more than 100 Trump statements attacking him and directives to pursue cases without legal basis.

— Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Her reasons for taking the throne have become more personal, more vindictive.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Definition of vindictive

Adjective

The heat has become so unbearable in Japan that weather officials in April announced a new term for days when maximum temperatures exceed 104 degrees — kokushobi, meaning harsh or cruel heat, according to the Japan Times.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
For thousands of Venezuelans, however, the lack of definitive answers has become one of the tragedy’s cruelest consequences.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026

Definition of cruel

Adjective

Anthropic has reported banning accounts and tightening filters after detecting attempts to use Claude for phishing emails, malicious code and safeguard bypasses.

— Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Rather than needing years of specialist knowledge, attackers can now use large language models to perform reconnaissance, identify weaknesses, write malicious code and map computer networks in ways that previously demanded significant expertise.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026

Definition of malicious

Adjective

The early Cold War liberals had read their history books and seen how the French Revolution had begun with high progressive hopes but descended into a vicious bloodbath.

— David Brooks, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
After a similarly vicious storm struck the New York area late Friday, hundreds of thousands of utility customers were left without power, trains to New Jersey were canceled and thousands of trees were damaged or uprooted.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of vicious

Adjective

After about a month, when the social media and news backlash started to settle down, Johnson said the hateful comments stopped coming in.

— Elijah Polance, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026
White attributed most of the hateful comments to online agitators rather than true WNBA or Indiana Fever fans.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of hateful

Adjective

Islamic extremism remains the biggest threat but over the past five years, threats from far-right groups and hostile states have significantly grown, said Laurence Taylor, head of counterterrorism police.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026
Officials said the aircraft will strengthen surveillance over vast northern waters and improve Denmark’s ability to detect hostile submarines operating in the region.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026

Definition of hostile

Adjective

Less social cohesion A decade ago, crime was infrequent and petty.

— Joseph J. Gonzalez, The Conversation, 9 July 2026
The general reaction to the policy has been overwhelmingly positive, Xue said, aside from some remarks on social media that charging for a smashed teacup was a petty move.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Definition of petty

Browse Nearby Words

revenged

revengeful

revenger

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“Revengeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/revengeful. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of revengeful

adjective

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