vengeful

adjective

ˈvenj-fəl How to pronounce vengeful (audio)
Definition of vengefulnext
as in vindictive
likely to seek revenge a vengeful person never lets go of a grudge

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 vengeful And the who, what and why of the vengeful spirit is the narrative pull of the play — along with the tense anticipation of more revelations, suspicions and shocks. — Frank Rizzo, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 Now people on both sides of the border will pay for a senseless trade war instigated by a petulant and vengeful president. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026 Here was a candidate who got shot—as Roosevelt was, in 1912, by a man who’d been instructed to do so in a dream by the vengeful ghost of William McKinley—and kept on campaigning. — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 The show finds ways to expose the worst in its characters, their pettiest, most vengeful, greediest parts. — Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vengeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vengeful
  1. vindictive
  2. revengeful
  3. cruel
  4. vicious
  5. malicious
  6. hateful
  7. hostile
  8. petty
Adjective
  • In a filing explaining their position last month, prosecutors said that while mistakes were made, corrective measures have since been taken and there is no evidence of vindictive prosecution that would warrant further hearings or sanctions.
    — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Artillery, who’s being hunted down by vindictive cops, rightly accuses Lamar of caring more about sourcing vocals than his physical safety.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of vindictive
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
Definition of revengeful
Adjective
  • In the book, MacLachlan recalls being utterly dumbfounded at having been asked to do something so oblivious at best and cruel at worst.
    — Rachel Brodsky, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Many of them, including Ned and his childhood friend and rival, Roland, are scarred by their time as youth players, haunted by memories of the sadistic coaches and cruel, competitive fathers who terrorized them both on and off the court.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of cruel
Adjective
  • The film focuses on a psychological experiment that Kaczynski was part of in college, where he was subjected to vicious personal attacks.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026
  • In the clip, an 11-year-old Breakers player can be seen skating up the ice before delivering a vicious, two-handed slash to the head of a Kings player.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of vicious
Adjective
  • According to Microsoft, cybercriminals commonly embed QR codes with malicious URLs directly in the body of emails or within attachments.
    — Benjamin Claeys, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Owen McIntire, 20, of Parkville, faces one count of malicious destruction of property and one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device for the March 2025 incident.
    — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of malicious
Adjective
  • Calling yourself compassionate doesn't excuse dangerous accusations What, exactly, is hateful about a mother or father wanting their daughter to have a female-only locker room?
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • His parents denied any wrongdoing in an interview with ABC10 News and said the family does not hold hateful beliefs.
    — Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of hateful
Adjective
  • In a hostile divorce proceeding, the first camp to attack has a major advantage.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The mission’s goal is to evaluate how the chips fare during the launch, as well as in the hostile space environment.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of hostile
Adjective
  • Now there seems to be a petty attempt to call out cheating when no cheating took place.
    — Matt Calkins OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Harness it wisely, and try not to waste it on petty arguments.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of petty

Browse Nearby Words

venged
vengeful
vengefulness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vengeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vengeful. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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