Vindictive
— seeking revenge; spiteful
Vindictive means having or showing a strong, unreasoning desire for revenge — spiteful and unforgiving. A vindictive person does not simply feel hurt; they actively seek to punish whoever wronged them, often disproportionately.
Vindictive behavior goes beyond defending yourself. It is driven by spite and a need to make others suffer in return. A vindictive ex-partner, a vindictive boss, or a vindictive rival all describe someone whose desire for payback overshadows reason, fairness, and even self-interest.
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Memory Mnemonic
WIND DETECTIVE
The keyword WIND DETECTIVE comes from how Vindictive sounds when spoken aloud. This pronunciation connection makes it easy to recall the keyword whenever you hear or see the word.
Memory Link
The DETECTIVE used the WIND to track down those who wronged him for payback—seeking revenge and spiteful!
Picture a DETECTIVE who uses the WIND itself to track down everyone who ever wronged him — not for justice, but for personal payback. Visualise him following the scent carried on the breeze, hunting down his targets with spiteful determination, driven entirely by revenge. That obsessive, spite-fueled desire to make others pay is vindictive.
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Usage Examples
- The vindictive former employee leaked confidential documents to damage the company after being fired.
- Her vindictive streak surfaced whenever she felt slighted, no matter how minor the offense.
- The vindictive ruler punished not just the rebels but their entire families as well.
- Critics called the lawsuit vindictive, arguing it was motivated by personal grudge rather than legal merit.
- He regretted his vindictive response, realizing that seeking revenge had only deepened the conflict.
Etymology of Vindictive
From Latin vindicta, meaning "vengeance" or "revenge," derived from vindicare (to claim, to avenge). The word entered English in the early 17th century and has always described a disposition driven by a desire for revenge — someone who seeks to punish those who have wronged them.
Synonyms & Antonyms of Vindictive
Synonyms
Antonyms
Common Collocations with Vindictive
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