noun / verb
revenge
rih-VENJ/rɪˈvendʒ/
Retaliation for a wrong or injury.
The neighbor takes revenge by tipping leaves back onto the cleared path.
Etymology
The avenging root supplies the idea of punishment for a wrong; re- may simply strengthen it. The noun names the retaliatory harm, whether the original grievance is real or imagined.
In context
family lost its member due to that genocide committed against Serbian people eye for an eye is not allowed as a defense in front of this tribunal but there was revenge
More examples
- She takes revenge by hiding her brother's favorite game.
- Their team gets revenge for last year's defeat.
- He hopes to revenge himself on his former business partner.
Forms
revenge · revenges · revenged · revenging
Similar words
- retaliation
- Broader response to an attack, not necessarily driven by resentment.
- retribution
- Emphasizes punishment viewed as deserved rather than personal payback.