vindictive

Vindictive is usually used to describe someone who’s known for frequently seeking revenge. It can also be used to describe the vengeful actions of such a person.

A person described as vindictive is usually someone who holds a grudge and who always tries to get back at people who they think have wronged them in some way. Vindictive people retaliate against others for any insult or perceived slight. Vindictive people do not let things go.

The word is always used negatively to imply criticism of such people or actions.

Example: I’ve never seen someone so vindictive—he’s obsessed with getting back at everyone who has ever slighted him, even when it happened years ago.

The first records of the word vindictive come from the early 1600s. It comes from the Latin vindicta, meaning “revenge,” from the verb �����Ի徱�������, “t�� vindicate.”

A single action can be called vindictive if it’s particularly spiteful. But the word is most commonly used to describe people who show a pattern of seeking revenge for even the slightest slights, even those that were unintended. The retaliation of a vindictive person can come in many forms, but you can be pretty sure that it will come in some form. That’s because vindictive people do not forgive and forget.

������ are some other forms of vindictive?

• vindictively (adverb)
• vindictiveness (noun)

������ are some synonyms for vindictive?

• vengeful
• spiteful
• retaliatory

������ are some words that share a root or word element with vindictive?��

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• vindicate
• vendetta
• revenge
• vengeance

������ are some words that often get used in discussing vindictive?

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• revenge
• vengeance
• grudge
• slight
• wrong
• insult
• petty

Vindictive is always used negatively to criticize someone for being focused on revenge.

At every setback, you have the opportunity to show who you really are:

Do you turn vindictive, and use the opportunity to inflict as much pain as possible?

or

Do you dig deep and act with fairness, compassion and generosity?

True character is forged in the furnace of hardship

— Omar Kassim (@okassim)

Why are people so vindictive on social media

— Susan (@susaninBA1)

Some people are vindictive in advance.
They imagine how they'll be wronged and then decide how they will punish those who, thus far, have done nothing to harm them.
And they appear to take great pleasure in administering this premature, imaginary punishment. ( "I'll show them!" )

— J. D. Landis (@J_D_Landis)

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Which of the following words does NOT describe someone considered vindictive?

A. forgiving
B. vengeful
C. venomous
D. grudging