VINDICTIVENESS Synonyms: 52 Similar and Opposite Words

vindictiveness

noun

Definition of vindictiveness

as in hatred

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 vindictiveness Last month, Judge Crenshaw concluded that while there was insufficient evidence to prove actual vindictiveness, the government could not justify its sudden shift from wanting to deport Abrego Garcia to prosecuting him. — Laura Romero, ABC News, 22 June 2026 In less capable hands, her bitchiness, her vanity, her vindictiveness would have made her one-dimensional. — Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026 Benching him on Thursday wouldn’t have been an act of vindictiveness, just as playing him wasn’t an act of mercy. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 15 May 2026 The line between law enforcement and partisan vindictiveness can also become muddied. — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025 When circumstances create a realistic likelihood of vindictiveness, the burden shifts to the government to justify its conduct. — Cassandra Burke Robertson, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2025 Johnson says Comey may be able to argue that he is being prosecuted out of vindictiveness, given the president's remarks. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 26 Sep. 2025 So there’s a feeling of vindictiveness and petulance that’s in there, but there’s also a practicality to it, too. — Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vindictiveness

Noun

The Hearst newspaper chain’s first profile of Hitler made no explicit mention of antisemitism, emphasizing instead his hatred of the Bolsheviks.

— Beverly Gage, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026
Bartos argues the gathering codified radical anti-Western hatred, antisemitism, and anti-American sentiment, birth-place to the BDS movement.

— Staff, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of hatred

Noun

Firefighters and authorities in both European countries were caught off guard by the virulence of the fires, which were fueled by high temperatures and the long-term effects of climate change.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
The virulence of the French and Spanish wildfires, fueled by high temperatures and the long-term effects of climate change, caught fire crews and authorities off guard.

— Mark Carlson, Fortune, 25 July 2026

Definition of virulence

Noun

For Davies, some of this vitriol has occasionally been felt first-hand.

— David Mack, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
As someone who deals with an immense amount of scrutiny regarding his own appearance, Davidson is pained to see the vitriol another ex, Grande, has been subjected to of late.

— Marlow Stern, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of vitriol

Noun

You’re meant to be feeling some amount of alienation right now.

— Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026
In a rare occurrence, Bardot’s 80-minute AI drama that, according to the synopsis, examines contemporary alienation and numbness in today’s world of hyper-connectivity, is set for a spring 2027 release across 20 cities in Turkey via Baska Sinema.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of alienation

Noun

Or, for that matter, whether the grandfather of the Reality-Vigilante-TV Industrial Complex ever felt the level of fear and self-loathing that radiates off Pattinson’s human-flop-sweat of a portrayal.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2026
In his autobiography, Olivier admits to feeling guilt and self-loathing over the red-hot affair, especially since his wife was pregnant with their son Tarquin.

— Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of loathing

Noun

Advanced robotics and a rapid rollout of AI should counter the shrinking workforce, while creating enough new jobs to keep youth disaffection at bay.

— Ben Bland, semafor.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Their disaffection can create a culture of hopelessness and emotional stasis that lasts well past any economic recovery.

— Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of disaffection

Browse Nearby Words

vindictively

vindictiveness

vinegar

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Vindictiveness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vindictiveness. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of vindictiveness

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

tittle

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes