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

Morton, looking out for Circe, stresses that transforming Odysseus’ men was not purely vengeful.

— Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
As a decapitated Louis (Jacob Anderson) came face-to-face with a vengeful Armand (Assad Zaman) — who really wanted an apology from his former lover — Lestat hung out in a bowling bag.

— Samantha Highfill, Entertainment Weekly, 20 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

Gomez has endured a lengthy list of cruel setbacks during his 11-year Liverpool career and faces a wait to learn the extent of his latest injury.

— James Pearce, New York Times, 26 July 2026
Obsessed with recovering her fortune, Magdalen’s uses of disguise and performance become manipulative, treacherous, and even cruel.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 July 2026

Definition of cruel

Adjective

On this occasion, OpenAI appears to have been transparent about its involvement in the incident and is working alongside Hugging Face to respond, but defenders need to prepare for a world where such tools are in the hands of openly malicious actors.

— Tim Keary, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Skubal did not say those words about the MRI and the arbitration hearing with any malicious tone.

— Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 22 July 2026

Definition of malicious

Adjective

Harbaugh had tense standoffs with legacy defenders Ed Reed, Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs and, during the 2012 season, held a sitdown with his players to address their vicious and personal attacks on his approach.

— Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 22 July 2026
The film also shows Maddox and her father in a vicious argument inside her car that illustrates the fracturing of their once-close bond.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026

Definition of vicious

Adjective

Look the steady coarsening of American civic and political culture and the ways in which the once-outrageous—the bilious, hateful rhetoric and the creeping authoritarianism—have become almost ordinary.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
Although Fang was charged in a single incident, authorities allege the defendant was responsible for a string of hateful messages found across the Northern California campus.

— Seamus Bozeman, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

Definition of hateful

Adjective

The instinct most change-makers follow is to spend their energy converting the hostile 10%.

— Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
The three companies intend to develop integrated solutions capable of detecting, tracking and defeating hostile drones operating in maritime environments, where protecting ships and offshore assets presents unique operational challenges.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 23 July 2026

Definition of hostile

Adjective

Hegseth has already challenged that premise in ways both meaningful and petty, by circumventing the normal promotion process to push out officers far below him or to stall their advancements, and by firing senior officers set for even higher rank.

— Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 22 July 2026
But while Argentina was being petty and petulant, Spain was practically perfect in every way.

— Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 20 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 28 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of revengeful

adjective

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