Vengeful: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe a person or action that is aimed at seeking revenge, often with intense passion or spite. Usually used in a serious or dramatic context.

• She was vengeful, determined to make him pay for his betrayal.
• The vengeful villain plotted its course of retaliation.

Often used in a moral, philosophical, or legal context to describe punishment that is deemed just and deserved as a response to wrongdoing.

• Many believe that the punishment should be retributive and fit the crime.
• Retributive justice aims to balance the scales for the harmed party.

Similar to 'vengeful', but typically has a more negative connotation and implies a persistent desire for revenge, often accompanying a sense of bitterness.

• His revengeful nature made it difficult for him to forgive and forget.
• She harbored revengeful thoughts for years after the incident.

Used to describe a person who has an intense desire to seek revenge, often over small matters or perceived slights, and is usually considered negative.

• He was a vindictive man who never let go of a grudge.
• Her vindictive actions caused significant distress to her coworkers.

Typically used in a formal or neutral context to describe actions taken in response to an injury or attack, often in a legal or strategic sense.

• The country launched a retaliatory strike after the unexpected attack.
• He faced retaliatory actions for his whistleblowing.