View synonyms for

avenge

[uh-venj]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

avenged, avenging

to take vengeance or exact satisfaction for.
to avenge a grave insult.
Antonyms:
to take vengeance on behalf of.
He avenged his brother.

avenge

/ əˈ��ɛ�Ի�� /

verb

(usually tr) to inflict a punishment in retaliation for (harm, injury, etc) done to (a person or persons); take revenge for or on behalf of
to avenge a crime
to avenge a murdered friend

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Usage

The use of avenge with a reflexive pronoun was formerly considered incorrect, but is now acceptable: she avenged herself on the man who killed her daughter

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Other Word Forms

avengeful adjective
avenger noun
avengingly adverb
unavenged adjective
unavenging adjective
unavengingly adverb
��ˈ��Բ�� noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of avenge¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English avengen, from Old French avengier, equivalent to a- prefix meaning “toward, increase” ( a- ⁵ ) + vengier, from Latin ��Ի徱��; vindicate

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Word History and Origins

Origin of avenge¹

C14: from Old French avengier, from vengier, from Latin ��Ի徱��; see _vengeance , _vindicate

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Synonym Study

Avenge, revenge both imply to inflict pain or harm in return for pain or harm inflicted on oneself or those persons or causes to which one feels loyalty. The two words were formerly interchangeable, but have been differentiated until they now convey widely diverse ideas. Avenge is now restricted to inflicting punishment as an act of retributive justice or as a vindication of propriety: to avenge a murder by bringing the criminal to trial. Revenge implies inflicting pain or harm to retaliate for real or fancied wrongs; a reflexive pronoun is often used with this verb: Iago wished to revenge himself upon Othello.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

With his buzzy portrayal of Rick, a man obsessed with avenging his father’s death, in “Lotus,” an Emmy might finally be in the cards for the actor, a veteran of many critically beloved shows.

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The victory also avenged a 5-2 loss, the most one-sided of the season, two months ago in Seattle.

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Eubank avenged that defeat with a dominant win inside the distance eight months later.

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But she’s unprepared to face Abby, a woman driven to avenge the loss of another great man cut down in a senseless murder – one that Joel committed and lied about to Ellie.

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To avenge Ali's death, Salah is then killed.

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Related Words

vindicate��

avenaceous avenger

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