vengeful spirit
Wraith seeking retribution
A vengeful spirit is a ghost or supernatural entity believed to return from death seeking retribution against the living.
The concept appears across cultures—from Japanese *onryō* to Western revenants—typically depicting souls unable to rest due to murder, betrayal, or unfinished business.
Horror fiction relies heavily on the trope: The house was haunted by a vengeful spirit seeking justice for her murder.
- ghostApparition of the dead
- phantomInsubstantial apparition
- specterGhostly threatening presence
- hauntingDisturbingly unforgettable
- haunted houseDwelling believed spirit-inhabited
wraith · revenant · restless soul · curse · grudge · wrongful death · poltergeist · banshee · apparition · tormented · eternal torment · restless · malevolent · shade · beyond the grave · undead · fury · wrath
- ghostsapparitions, ghosts, apparition, phantoms, specter
- horror tropesjump scare, final girl, haunted house, masked killer, slasher
- spiritsghost, vodka, rum, whiskey, brandy
- Asian HorrorThe Grudge, J-horror, House, ghost stories, yokai
- evil spiritsdemons, demon, devils, devil, fiends
- monstersdemon, monster, vampire, werewolf, ogre
vengeful spiritguardian angel
Protective spirit assigned individually
protective spirit · spirit guide · friendly ghost · holy spirit
vengeful spiritguardian spirit
Protective supernatural being
spirit guide · household god · fairy godmother · patron saint · guiding spirit
vengeful, vengeance, avenge, avenger, avenging, avenged, revenge, revengeful, vengefulness