as in cruel
likely to seek revenge
be careful not to annoy the vindictive old woman who lives down the street
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Recent Examples of vindictive
The risk is clear: that a truce collapses, likely due to Russian action, Trump incorrectly believes Ukraine is to blame for spoiling his peace, and Ukraine’s aid is again frozen, this time with a more vindictive edge as they have been deemed the aggressor.
—
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025
Either way, funding hydrogen in red states and not blue ones would be vindictive and un-American.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2025
However, not enough focus has been placed on the real actor behind this vindictive act: Trump.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 31 Mar. 2025
For Book the lobbyist, and for Book the understandably vindictive father, the restrictions were a win.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vindictive
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025
Either way, funding hydrogen in red states and not blue ones would be vindictive and un-American.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2025
However, not enough focus has been placed on the real actor behind this vindictive act: Trump.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 31 Mar. 2025
For Book the lobbyist, and for Book the understandably vindictive father, the restrictions were a win.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vindictive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vindictive
Adjective
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But Church, who was profoundly affected by the 2023 Covenant school shooting in Nashville, imbues a real fear of what’s possibly around the corner in today’s cruel world.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
2 May 2025
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Milano’s extensive medical history sometimes feels too cruel to detail; his only full season came as a rookie in 2017.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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The ransomware attacks in question started with malicious Google Ads deployed by the threat actors.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
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Tyler Chase Butler, 27, was arrested at the scene and was charged on May 6 with second-degree murder, malicious wounding and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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As Season 2 starts, Charlie’s traded one vengeful mob boss for another.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
8 May 2025
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But more pragmatic Russian leaders may finally appreciate that having Ukraine in NATO is a lesser threat to Russia than a vengeful Ukraine unbound by the alliance’s rules and discipline.—
ALEXANDER GABUEV,
Foreign Affairs,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But even when locked in a tense, deadly standoff with the vicious Barbie, Moulin doesn’t break, and his courage and silence helps lead to the liberation of France, while leaving behind a new spirit of strength and resistance.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
10 May 2025
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Bone Tomahawk Year: 2015 Runtime: 2h 11m Director: S. Craig Zahler S. Craig Zahler has become one of the most divisive filmmakers working today after three vicious, brutal movies — Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99, and Dragged Across Concrete.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
7 May 2025
Adjective
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Fans hoping for a revengeful scoring outburst were left wanting a little more, however, as Dončić — a career 28.6 points per game scorer — added only 10 points over the final three quarters.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC News,
26 Feb. 2025
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Eventually, this revengeful streak will result in loneliness and isolation.—
Nicole Froio,
refinery29.com,
29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Coupled with his hateful rhetoric, threats, lies, erratic policies, trampling of the Constitution and abnormal fascination with childish superlatives, tyrannical figures and Soviet-era style military parades, there’s much to be concerned about.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2025
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Despite the hateful rhetoric from left-wing Democrats fighting Trump’s efforts, Trump and his dream team won’t back down.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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And Marguerite did actually manage to live there for years, scraping together a life on the hostile tundra.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2025
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And this is a very hard-line government that has taken a kind of hostile view of everybody in the region.—
Obed Manuel,
NPR,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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Mixed in with small pleasures and petty disputes with her older sister are true feats of survival and bravery.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
2 May 2025
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Baffert had long operated under a cloud of suspicion inside and outside of racing, thanks in part to his larger-than-life public persona and his utter domination of the competition on the racetrack – not to mention a series of other petty drug infractions in big races leading up to the 2021 Derby.—
Katie Bo Lillis,
CNN Money,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vindictive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vindictive. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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