vindictive

adjective

vin-ˈdik-tiv How to pronounce vindictive (audio)
Definition of vindictivenext
as in cruel
likely to seek revenge be careful not to annoy the vindictive old woman who lives down the street

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 vindictive Several prosecutors who played a role in the Broadview Six case have hired attorneys amid potential claims of vindictive prosecution and cover-up. — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026 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 Unfortunately, most divorces are messy, especially when one party is vindictive. — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026 Act now — the fund expires before another president takes office — and get your just compensation for the acts of a vindictive government. — Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 20 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for vindictive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vindictive
  1. cruel
  2. malicious
  3. vengeful
  4. vicious
  5. revengeful
  6. hateful
  7. hostile
  8. petty
Adjective
  • Who could be so cruel as to cut off their family from the family plan?
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Influencer culture didn’t exist yet, but some designers were cruel and catty, even without the current omnipresent evil of social media.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 July 2026
Definition of cruel
Adjective
  • These errors can cause crashes or enable attackers to exploit memory vulnerabilities, risking data corruption or executing malicious code.
    — Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • Elijah Bieniemy, who is 27 and is a graduate of Olathe Northwest High School, has been charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm during the commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside of a dwelling.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026
Definition of malicious
Adjective
  • Most of the other relationships in the movie are hopelessly corrupted or poisoned in some way, as Letty moves between an unloving mother and a vengeful former lover, and others whose closeness is a weapon to be feared.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 28 July 2026
  • Russia, already shock-therapied into unprecedented national calamity, was beginning to recoil from fervent Americanophilia into vengeful ultra-nationalism.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
Definition of vengeful
Adjective
  • The drastic measures Alice takes to end this vicious cycle naturally bring her closer to Catherine’s school of violent retribution.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 27 July 2026
  • Despite the powerful action and vicious fight scenes the franchise is known for, Laufey is still shaping up as a bit of a love story.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of vicious
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
  • Yes, discipline, which is not a heavy and hateful word, because discipline is what frees us.
    — Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026
  • The goal isn’t to eliminate every harmful post or hateful idea.
    — Larry Magid, Mercury News, 30 July 2026
Definition of hateful
Adjective
  • The extraordinary allegation offers a window into the waning days of an increasingly hostile primary race to replace Kelly, who has enjoyed broad popularity throughout her eight years in office.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
  • The company has faced workplace and labor complaints, including allegations of racial discrimination and hostile conditions in warehouses.
    — Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 30 July 2026
Definition of hostile
Adjective
  • His legal team couched the City Council’s move to weaken the mayor’s authority and strip him of privileges as a petty effort to unseat the youngest mayor in the city’s history, and one who has questioned their leadership.
    — Reed Williams, AJC.com, 29 July 2026
  • One Marchand report contained several petty and embarrassing details about McAfee that clearly came from ESPN insiders.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of petty

Browse Nearby Words

vindicators
vindictive
vindictively
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Cite this Entry

“Vindictive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vindictive. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on vindictive

Nglish: Translation of vindictive for Spanish Speakers

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