revengefulness
Desire for payback
Revengefulness is the quality of being inclined toward revenge—a persistent desire to retaliate against those who have caused harm or offense.
The word emphasizes disposition rather than action: a revengeful person harbors grudges and waits for opportunities to settle scores.
His revengefulness made forgiveness impossible.
Punitive response to injury
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- reprisalPunitive action in return
- counterattackOffensive response to aggression
requital · comeuppance · settling scores · tit-for-tat · getting even · blood feud · reciprocation · counterstroke
Persistent bitter displeasure
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- rancorLasting bitter resentment
malice · spite · enmity · hatred · wrath · fury · ire · indignation
Formal claim of unfairness
- ill willHostile or unfriendly feeling
- score to settleGrievance requiring revenge
- bad bloodLasting hostile feelings
- vendettaProlonged retaliatory conflict
long memory · nursing wounds · unforgiving · festering · deep-seated · harboring · brooding · simmering
Seeking harm from resentment
- spitefulWanting to hurt others
- unforgivingShowing no leniency
- implacableIncapable of being pacified
- mercilessShowing no clemency
ruthless · malevolent · relentless · pitiless · remorseless · cold-blooded · calculating · obsessive
Prolonged retaliatory conflict
- blood feudInherited cycle of retribution
- honor killingMurder for family disgrace
- nemesisPersistent source of ruin
- Hatfields and McCoysHistoric family blood feud
retaliation
Punitive response to injury
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- reprisalPunitive action in return
counterattack · requital · comeuppance · settling scores · tit-for-tat · getting even · blood feud · reciprocation · counterstroke · striking back
resentment
Persistent bitter displeasure
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
rancor · malice · spite · enmity · hatred · wrath · fury · ire · indignation · acrimony
grievance
Formal claim of unfairness
- ill willHostile or unfriendly feeling
- score to settleGrievance requiring revenge
- bad bloodLasting hostile feelings
vendetta · long memory · nursing wounds · unforgiving · festering · deep-seated · harboring · brooding · simmering
vindictive
Seeking harm from resentment
- spitefulWanting to hurt others
- unforgivingShowing no leniency
- implacableIncapable of being pacified
merciless · ruthless · malevolent · relentless · pitiless · remorseless · cold-blooded · calculating · obsessive · consumed
vendetta
Prolonged retaliatory conflict
- blood feudInherited cycle of retribution
- honor killingMurder for family disgrace
- nemesisPersistent source of ruin
revengefulnessforgiveness
Releasing resentment toward offenders
forgivingness · mercy · mercifulness · clemency · pardoning
revengefulnesscompassion
Concern for others' distress
kindness · benevolence · goodwill · charity · sympathy
revenge, avenge, vengeance, vengeful, avenging, revenges, revengeful, avenger, revenging