vengeance

noun

ˈven-jən(t)s How to pronounce vengeance (audio)
Definition of vengeancenext
as in revenge
the act or an instance of responding to an injury with an injury sought vengeance after his sister was murdered

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vengeance Out of desperation, Ron seeks vengeance against Tecca, the company that made the all-important chair. — Barry Levitt, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026 But Schleien considers official pietism—the theocratic strictures, the holy geographies, and Iron Age notions of vengeance—a threat in its own right, and one that exacerbates various security crises. — Bernard Avishai, New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2026 For Arbaeen, the lights inside the shrine and the flags fluttering from its golden dome are switched to red – the color of vengeance. — Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026 Together, Grace and Rose must uncover the Harrow Home’s secrets and seek justice—or ghostly vengeance—for the young women who suffered there. — Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vengeance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vengeance
  1. revenge
  2. retaliation
  3. retribution
Noun
  • Is anyone in The Shards getting revenge at this point, though?
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
  • But where each side diverges is on who was seeking revenge, an act that resulted in the death of an unintended victim — Robinson — instead of Bowman.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of revenge
Noun
  • But Washington canceled the attack in part because of Gulf Arab states’ concerns about potential retaliation.
    — JAMES F. JEFFREY, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2026
  • McCoy’s lawsuit alleges that her demotion was in violation of Missouri’s whistleblower statute, which allows public employees to sue for unlawful retaliation after reporting violations of law.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of retaliation
Noun
  • But Blanche’s policy priorities are often overshadowed by a growing number of investigations that have drawn criticism that the department is being used as a weapon in the president’s campaign of retribution.
    — Alanna Durkin Richer, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • But park officials never addressed her report or checked on their wellbeing, said the woman, who is a nationwide passholder and asked to remain anonymous to avoid retribution from Six Flags.
    — Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of retribution

Phrases Containing vengeance

Browse Nearby Words

venge
vengeance
vengeances
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vengeance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vengeance. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on vengeance

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about vengeance

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All