rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryvendettaProlonged revenge
noun

vendetta

ven-DET-uh/venˈdetə/

A prolonged bitter feud or campaign of revenge.

The neighbors' vendetta continues across the repeatedly damaged and repaired fence.

Two neighboring households glare across a fence bearing old patched damage, long-running bitter feud conveyed by tense families and repeated repairs, no violence.
Etymology
vendettaLatinvengeance, revenge

The root means revenge, and a vendetta originally named a family blood-feud in which relatives avenged a killing. That pattern of retaliation supplies the image for a prolonged bitter campaign against someone.

In context

Vivid Audio Library41:30
Half the confusion and fever of the world comes of this vendetta he declares against the hapless innocents who have once done him a wrong.
The Ordeal of Richard Feverel by George Meredith (Part 2) | Full Classic Victorian Novel Audiobook

More examples

  • The two families have carried on a vendetta for generations.
  • She accuses the newspaper of pursuing a personal vendetta against her.
  • Old vendettas keep the neighbors from settling even minor disputes.

Forms

vendetta · vendettas

Similar words

feud
Emphasizes ongoing mutual hostility rather than a campaign of revenge.
revenge
Can describe a single payback act rather than prolonged hostility.
grudge
Describes lasting resentment without necessarily involving action against someone.