verb

avenge

uh-VENJ/əˈvendʒ/

To punish someone for a wrong done to oneself or another.

The story's hero seeks to avenge the attack on his family.

A white adult whose shop was vandalized confronts the culprit holding a broken window frame, stern resolve, no violence.

Etymology

+vengeLatinassert a claim; avenge, punish

Latin vindicare covered both asserting or defending a claim and avenging a wrong. Avenge expresses vindication through punishment: answering harm by inflicting a penalty on the wrongdoer.

In context

Chronicle - Medieval History Documentaries50:26

"I have been deeply affected by these events and want nothing more than to avenge the wrongs done to the people of this town."

Hundred Years' War: The Bloodiest War In Medieval History

More examples

She vowed to avenge the injustice.
They avenged their earlier defeat with a decisive victory.
He was still trying to avenge a long-forgotten insult.

Forms

avenge · avenges · avenged · avenging

Similar words

retaliate: Emphasizes a return action rather than punishing a particular wrong.
revenge: Revenge often emphasizes personal satisfaction in retaliation.