revenger
One who retaliates
A revenger is one who takes revenge—someone who inflicts harm or punishment in retaliation for a wrong.
The term appears most often in literary contexts, particularly Jacobean revenge tragedies where a protagonist systematically punishes those who wronged them or their family: The revenger plotted against his father's murderers.
In contemporary use, avenger is more common.
Extralegal justice-seeker
- avengerRetribution dealer
- retaliatorOne who pays back
- nemesisPersistent source of ruin
- vindicatorOne who justifies
crusader · enforcer · punisher · assassin · executioner · hunter · stalker · antihero
Punitive response to injury
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- reprisalPunitive action in return
- vengeanceRetaliation for injury
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
punishment · reckoning · settling scores · hunting · stalking · confrontation · ambush · strike
Classic revenge novel
- HamletDanish prince's revenge tragedy
- John WickAction film assassin protagonist
- OldboyPrivileged network member
- protagonistStory's central figure
Kill Bill · antagonist · twist · poetic justice · climax · comeuppance · downfall · redemption
Prolonged retaliatory conflict
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
- blood feudInherited cycle of retribution
- grievanceFormal claim of unfairness
- wrongContrary to fact
injustice · betrayal · murder · dishonor · score · debt · slight · offense
Fierce, punishing anger
- furyIntense violent anger
- rageIntense, violent anger
- hatredIntense hostile aversion
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
resentment · spite · malice · anger · obsession · brooding · seething · righteous anger
vigilante
Extralegal justice-seeker
- avengerRetribution dealer
- retaliatorOne who pays back
- nemesisPersistent source of ruin
vindicator · crusader · enforcer · punisher · assassin · executioner · hunter · stalker · antihero · lone wolf
retaliation
Punitive response to injury
retribution · punishment · reckoning · settling scores · hunting · stalking · confrontation · ambush · strike · pursuit
Count of Monte Cristo
Classic revenge novel
- HamletDanish prince's revenge tragedy
- John WickAction film assassin protagonist
- OldboyPrivileged network member
Kill Bill · protagonist · antagonist · twist · poetic justice · climax · comeuppance · downfall · redemption · cycle of violence
vendetta
Prolonged retaliatory conflict
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
- blood feudInherited cycle of retribution
- grievanceFormal claim of unfairness
wrong · injustice · betrayal · murder · dishonor · score · debt · slight · offense · transgression
wrath
Fierce, punishing anger
bitterness · resentment · spite · malice · anger · obsession · brooding · seething · righteous anger · bloodlust
revengerforgiver
One who pardons
pardoner · reconciler · absolver · peacemaker · pacifist
revengerforgiver
One who pardons
rehabilitator · Gandhi · Jesus Christ · Nelson Mandela · Desmond Tutu
- take revengeReturn harm for harm
- bitter revenge
- sweet revengeGratifying retaliation
- revenge is sweetRetaliation feels rewarding
- revenge plotPlan to retaliate deliberately
- revenge pornNon-consensual intimate imagery distribution
revenge, revenges, revengeful, revenging, revenged, revengers, revengefulness