vengefulness
Desire for payback
Vengefulness is the quality of being driven by a desire for revenge.
Someone characterized by vengefulness harbors grudges and actively seeks to retaliate against those who have wronged them, real or imagined.
The word carries strongly negative connotations, suggesting an obsessive or excessive preoccupation with payback rather than a measured response to injury.
His vengefulness made it impossible to resolve the conflict peacefully.
Disposition toward retaliation
- spitefulnessMalicious desire to harm
- maliceIntent to cause harm
- malevolenceActive ill will
- crueltyDeliberate harm-causing disposition
meanness · ruthlessness · mercilessness · cold-bloodedness · unforgiving · implacable · relentless · obsessive
Persistent resentment toward someone
- grievanceFormal claim of unfairness
- score-settlingAvenging past grievances
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- getting evenReciprocating a wrong
retaliation · reprisal · reciprocation · tit-for-tat · an eye for an eye · settling accounts · unfinished business · old wounds
Intense, violent anger
- furyIntense violent anger
- wrathFierce, punishing anger
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
hatred · animosity · hostility · seething · smoldering · festering · brooding · consuming
Prolonged retaliatory conflict
- blood feudInherited cycle of retribution
- honor killingMurder for family disgrace
- Count of Monte CristoClassic revenge novel
- MedeaMythical infanticidal sorceress
Inigo Montoya · Hamlet · Kill Bill · Old Testament · karma · nemesis · Furies · Erinyes
vindictiveness
Disposition toward retaliation
- spitefulnessMalicious desire to harm
- maliceIntent to cause harm
- malevolenceActive ill will
cruelty · meanness · ruthlessness · mercilessness · cold-bloodedness · unforgiving · implacable · relentless · obsessive · consumed
grudge
Persistent resentment toward someone
- grievanceFormal claim of unfairness
- score-settlingAvenging past grievances
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
getting even · retaliation · reprisal · reciprocation · tit-for-tat · an eye for an eye · settling accounts · unfinished business · old wounds · injustice
rage
Intense, violent anger
- furyIntense violent anger
- wrathFierce, punishing anger
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
bitterness · hatred · animosity · hostility · seething · smoldering · festering · brooding · consuming · burning
vendetta
Prolonged retaliatory conflict
- blood feudInherited cycle of retribution
- honor killingMurder for family disgrace
- Count of Monte CristoClassic revenge novel
Inigo Montoya · Medea · Hamlet · Kill Bill · Old Testament · karma · nemesis · Furies · Erinyes · eye for an eye
retaliate
Respond to injury alike
- punishPenalize for wrongdoing
- strike backRespond with force
- get back atRetaliate against someone
hunt down · pursue · plot · scheme · plan · stalk · ambush · confront · destroy · ruin
vengefulnessforgiveness
Releasing resentment toward offenders
mercy · clemency · pardon · absolution · forbearance
vengefulnessbenevolence
Disposition toward doing good
kindness · compassion · goodwill · gentleness · mercifulness
revenge, avenge, vengeance, vengeful, avenging, revengeful, avenger, avenged, unavenged