avenger
One seeking retribution
An avenger is someone who inflicts harm or punishment in return for a wrong done to themselves or others.
The word carries overtones of righteous retribution: He styled himself an avenger of the oppressed.
In superhero contexts, avengers are heroes who fight injustice, though the original sense implies retaliation rather than prevention.
Punishment for wrongdoing
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- reprisalPunitive action in return
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- comeuppanceDeserved punishment or rebuke
nemesis · wrath · blood feud · vendetta · grudge · score-settling · reckoning · fury
One who guards another
- guardianProtective caretaker of another
- championTop competitor, or advocate
- vigilanteExtralegal justice-seeker
- rescuerOne who saves others
savior · shield · sentinel · hero · crusader · knight · warrior · paladin
Armored tech-hero persona
- ThorGermanic thunder deity
- HulkRage-fueled green giant
- Captain AmericaSupersoldier with vibranium shield
- HawkeyeIowa resident's nickname
Thanos · Loki · Ultron · Nick Fury · Infinity Stones · S.H.I.E.L.D. · Infinity War · Civil War
Punishment proportional to offense
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- reckoningSettlement of accounts
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- wrongdoerPerson who misbehaves
villain · perpetrator · victim · restitution · redress · righteous anger · moral duty · honor-bound
retribution
Punishment for wrongdoing
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- reprisalPunitive action in return
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
comeuppance · nemesis · wrath · blood feud · vendetta · grudge · score-settling · reckoning · fury · vigilante
defender
One who guards another
- guardianProtective caretaker of another
- championTop competitor, or advocate
- vigilanteExtralegal justice-seeker
rescuer · savior · shield · sentinel · hero · crusader · knight · warrior · paladin · watchman
Iron Man
Armored tech-hero persona
- ThorGermanic thunder deity
- HulkRage-fueled green giant
- Captain AmericaSupersoldier with vibranium shield
Hawkeye · Thanos · Loki · Ultron · Nick Fury · Infinity Stones · S.H.I.E.L.D. · Infinity War · Civil War · Black Panther
retributive justice
Punishment proportional to offense
- punishmentPenalty for an offense
- reckoningSettlement of accounts
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
wrongdoer · villain · perpetrator · victim · restitution · redress · righteous anger · moral duty · honor-bound · vindication
- hero tropesaction heroes, chosen one, superheroes, hero's journey, reluctant hero
- heroeshero, heroes, heroine, heroines, superhero
- charactersprotagonist, antagonist, hero, character, characters
- archetypeshero, villain, trickster, mentor, mother
- retributionretribution, payback, retaliation, reprisal, requital
- revenge talesvendetta, retribution, blood feud, grudge, payback
avengerforgiver
One who pardons
pardoner · redeemer · reconciler · absolver · ransomer
avengerperpetrator
One who commits wrongdoing
peacemaker · reconciler · wrongdoer · mediator · offender
- The Avengers
- avenging angelDivine agent of retribution
- Avengers Endgame2019 superhero saga finale
- masked avengerDisguised person seeking justice
- Avengers TowerSuperhero team's headquarters building