vindictive

adjective

vin·​dic·​tive vin-ˈdik-tiv How to pronounce vindictive (audio)
Synonyms of vindictivenext
1
a
: disposed to seek revenge : vengeful
b
: intended for or involving revenge
2
: intended to cause anguish or hurt : spiteful
vindictively adverb
vindictiveness noun

Synonyms

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Examples of vindictive in a Sentence

Well, maybe actually waging vendettas is a bad idea, but to be known for your vindictiveness can be a great advantage, for then people will take care not to cross you. And maybe the surest way of acquiring a reputation for vindictiveness is actually to be vindictive. — David Papineau, New York Times Book Review, 11 May 1997
And though his [John Simon's] caustic wit can sometimes sound more personally vindictive than objectively critical, it allows him to plow through a lot of literary pretentiousness. — Andrea Barnet, New York Times Book Review, 19 Mar. 1989
The bear, seen in many aspects as humanlike, was subject to ambivalent attitudes: mainly, he was seen as a stand-in for benevolent supernaturals, but sometimes also as a dangerous and at times a vindictive and harmful one. — William W. Fitzhugh & Aron Crowell, Crossroads of Continents, 1988
A machine gun lashed at him from across the river.  … In the darkness, it spat a vindictive white light like an acetylene torch, and its sound was terrifying. — Norman Mailer, The Naked and the Dead, 1948
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
But truth be told, Los Angeles isn’t the biggest California prize for a vindictive president obsessed with punishing his internal political foes. — Max Taves, Mercury News, 11 June 2025 Two erratic, vindictive, spotlight-hungry billionaires convinced of their own greatness occupying the White House together? — Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025 What People Are Saying Jennifer Levi, a senior director at GLAD Law, an LGBTQ legal advocacy group, told Reuters: The directives coming out are vindictive and aggressive. — Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025 Paying clients knew how vindictive Trump could be and didn’t want to antagonize him, even if no one imagined that a tactic quite as effective as the executive orders would soon be deployed. — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vindictive

Word History

Etymology

Latin vindicta revenge, vindication, from vindicare

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of vindictive was in the 15th century

Rhymes for vindictive

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Browse Nearby Words

vindicatory
vindictive
vindictive damages
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Cite this Entry

“Vindictive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vindictive. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.

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Kids Definition

vindictive

adjective
vin·​dic·​tive vin-ˈdik-tiv How to pronounce vindictive (audio)
1
: likely to seek revenge
a vindictive person
2
: intended to cause pain or anguish : spiteful
vindictive remarks
vindictively adverb
vindictiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on vindictive

Nglish: Translation of vindictive for Spanish Speakers

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