as in vindictive
likely to seek revenge
a vengeful person never lets go of a grudge
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vengeful
Starling, a black-ops squad formed decades ago to take out terrorist plots that was ultimately shut down by Greer, has been resurrected for vengeful purposes by British war hero Liam Crown (Max Beesley).
—
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 May 2026
And, some claim, vengeful Sicilian spirits.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 15 May 2026
Thewlis will lead the cast playing Trevor, a vengeful and dangerous psychopath who terrorizes a group of homebuyers at the heart of the events.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Think about how loath Kamala Harris was to criticize Joe Biden during the 2024 election, and how that may have hurt her with swing voters—and then imagine how that might work with a president who is both more vengeful and more influential with his base.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for vengeful
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 20 May 2026
And, some claim, vengeful Sicilian spirits.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 15 May 2026
Thewlis will lead the cast playing Trevor, a vengeful and dangerous psychopath who terrorizes a group of homebuyers at the heart of the events.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Think about how loath Kamala Harris was to criticize Joe Biden during the 2024 election, and how that may have hurt her with swing voters—and then imagine how that might work with a president who is both more vengeful and more influential with his base.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for vengeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vengeful
Adjective
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Harris has taken the religious patina of Alice Walker’s tale—most chiefly the Christian God, to whom Celie writes her heartsick journal entries after she is separated from her beloved sister, Nettie, by the monstrous Pa and the vindictive Mister—and dirties it, wisely.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
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Unfortunately, most divorces are messy, especially when one party is vindictive.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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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
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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
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The immigrant-detention facility known as Alligator Alcatraz, deep in the Florida Everglades, stands out as a uniquely cruel publicity stunt with an absurdly high price tag, in which much of the money goes into just a few pockets.—
Eric Schlosser,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
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Therefore, a second execution would not violate the prohibition on double jeopardy or on the imposition of cruel punishment.—
Austin Sarat,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Her vicious block on Clark with seven minutes left nearly lifted the roof off the place.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
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Other cast members spoke on rising to new challenges in Season 2, including Paulina Chavez, whose character Ariana Medina survived a vicious assault in the penultimate episode.—
Kai Naima Williams,
Variety,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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The teenager was arrested for 12 counts of willful/malicious kill/maim/torture animal -- horse and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property over $5,000, authorities said.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
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Justice Stanley Reed’s majority opinion emphasized that what had happened to Francis was accidental and that, without malicious intent, there was no violation of the Eighth Amendment.—
Austin Sarat,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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The symbols that were represented are antisemitic and hateful to every person of conscience; this appalling act violated our sense of community and solidarity.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
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The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Rookie said she was disappointed by some of the hateful comments directed at her body and her age.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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Weiss and Tom Cibrowski were openly hostile from the start.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
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The Space Force budget has grown significantly in recent years, and one of its mandates is countering spying and potentially hostile acts by Russian and Chinese spacecraft in these orbits.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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Lestat justifies his, uh, connection with Gabriella by arguing that vampires transcend petty human concepts like conventional morality.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
7 June 2026
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The Avs did right by MacFarland in granting him permission to interview, unlike the petty and classless Golden Knights, who continue to hold former coach Bruce Cassidy hostage.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vengeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vengeful. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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