vindictive

adjective

vin·​dic·​tive vin-ˈdik-tiv How to pronounce vindictive (audio)
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

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
In observing so long a silence I have been influenced much more by a vindictive purpose,—a purpose to punish you for your suspicion that I could possibly feel myself hurt or offended by any critical suggestion of yours … William Cowper 26 Feb. 1791, in William Cowper's Letters, Edward Verrall Lucas, editor1924
It is not true that suffering ennobles the character; happiness does that sometimes, but suffering, for the most part, makes men petty and vindictive. W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, 1919
be careful not to annoy the vindictive old woman who lives down the street
Recent Examples on the Web And a vindictive spirit might have something to do with it. Marta Balaga, Variety, 16 Mar. 2024 Large sections of the press act as the mouthpiece of the ruling party for fear of losing government advertisements or facing vindictive tax raids. Ramachandra Guha, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 Mark Margolis, the journeyman actor who turned in a commanding performance as the vindictive drug runner Hector Salamanca, a man of few words and a bell, on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, has died. Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Aug. 2023 For most people, there are plenty of outlets for voicing one’s discontent with a job: the bar, social media, and, for the truly vindictive, workplace-review sites. Anna Wiener, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2024 On the criminal defense front, Biden’s legal team fired off a suite of motions to dismiss the Delaware charges as politically motivated, vindictive, unconstitutional and barred by an agreement that prosecutors signed last year and that his lawyers assert is still valid and binding. Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 10 Jan. 2024 At the same time, conservative groups like the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society have been convening public panels to discuss how the Sullivan ruling supposedly permitted biased, vindictive journalists to defame their enemies with impunity. David Enrich, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2023 From here on, the story grows oddly vindictive and less appealing. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2023 To arrive at court, the rats faced the twin perils of vindictive villagers and their bloodthirsty cats; his clients needed guarantees of safe passage. WIRED, 7 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vindictive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near vindictive

Cite this Entry

“Vindictive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vindictive. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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

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