revenge fantasy
Imagined sweet retribution
A revenge fantasy is an imagined scenario where someone gets back at a person or group who wronged them.
The fantasy typically involves the wrongdoer suffering consequences or the fantasizer triumphing dramatically.
In fiction, revenge fantasies are narratives where protagonists exact elaborate payback—often with cathartic violence: Tarantino's films are pure revenge fantasy.
The term can be dismissive, suggesting the work or daydream substitutes for real action or mature processing of grievance.
- vendettaProlonged retaliatory conflict
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
- nemesisPersistent source of ruin
- villainWicked story antagonist
- justiceFair treatment under law
plotting · scheming · kill list · burn book · betrayal · humiliation · triumph · comeuppance · wrath · bitter · scorned · reckoning · final showdown · obsession · brooding · satisfying · tormentor · downfall
- fantasiesdaydream, dream, wishful thinking, illusion, make-believe
- violent urgesbloodlust, violent outburst, blind rage, berserker rage, murderous intent
revenge fantasyforgiveness
Releasing resentment toward offenders
mercy · compassion · letting go · acceptance · moving on
revenge fantasytaking action
Initiating purposeful effort
vigilante justice · retribution · getting even · payback · settling scores
revenge, fantasy, revenges, revenged, revenging, revenger, revengers, vengeful, vengefully