as in vindictive
likely to seek revenge
a vengeful person never lets go of a grudge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
That humor can become vengeful if provoked.
—
Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2026
Feeling vengeful this Valentine’s Day?
—Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 12 Feb. 2026
What Christians universally believe in, however, is the power of prayer, turning to it not only for moral clarity but when feeling helpless, hurt, bitter or vengeful.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Lamont has so far skillfully navigated the erratic, unilateral and sometimes vengeful policy pronouncements from Washington.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vengeful
Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2026
Feeling vengeful this Valentine’s Day?
—Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 12 Feb. 2026
What Christians universally believe in, however, is the power of prayer, turning to it not only for moral clarity but when feeling helpless, hurt, bitter or vengeful.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Lamont has so far skillfully navigated the erratic, unilateral and sometimes vengeful policy pronouncements from Washington.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vengeful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vengeful
Adjective
-
That timeline is a key part of the argument Smartmatic laid out in its March 10 filing, which is asking the court to dismiss the charges as amounting to unlawfully vindictive against the company.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
-
That was the Harvey that many people remember — crude, profane and vindictive.—
Maer Roshan,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 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
-
The $31 million stopgap measure overrides a cruel funding cut by the state Department of Health and, for now, avoids a potential life-or-death situation for about 11,000 people in Florida.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
-
But the love between cruel people is a real love, too.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Compared with a vicious online duel, this conflict is hard to dramatize.—
George Packer,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Ejiofor, the Big East Player of the Year, snatched the momentum with a rare 3-pointer from the top of the key before a vicious block on Demary, which led to a flashy dunk from Dillon Mitchell (nine points, nine rebounds, two steals).—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Fleming was charged with one count of malicious assault, with the sheriff's department adding that more charges are possible in the future.—
Michael Guise,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Cole was charged with one count of unlawfully transporting an explosive device with a plan either to kill, injure, or intimidate a person or to unlawfully destroy property, and a second count of malicious destruction or attempt to destroy with an explosive device.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But there also are fears that the focus on Israel is the leading edge of an antisemitic fringe that has gained ground by portraying Jews as shadowy manipulators, echoing some of history's most hateful tropes.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Dark humor and action are contrasted with the hateful rhetoric of the government and the indifference of the fictional show’s producers to create a unique proposition on the international TV market.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Preparing well as a team is the Tommies’ primary order of business until the puck is dropped in what is sure to be a hostile environment for the visitors.—
Dean Spiros,
Twin Cities,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Later that year, local outlet Washington City Paper also reported on allegations of a hostile work environment under Pettigrew.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Pentagon’s position was that all of this petty haggling was moot.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Any suggestion of a cohesive, equitable tax policy in Florida has been shredded by petty partisanship, deceitful tactics and fake populism.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vengeful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vengeful. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
