Vindictive
Adjective
Definition: Having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge.
Synonyms: Revengeful, Vengeful, Spiteful, Malicious
Antonyms: Forgiving, Merciful, Magnanimous
- She is known for her vindictive nature, always seeking to punish those who wronged her.
- After being fired, he launched a vindictive campaign to ruin his former employer's reputation.
- Think of "vindictive" as "taking revenge" - the word itself sounds similar to "revenge".
Etymology:
The word "vindictive" originated from the Latin word "vindicativus", which means "revengeful" or "vindictive".
Historical Usage:The term has been used in English since the late 16th century, primarily to describe someone seeking vengeance or harboring strong feelings of revenge.
Related Idioms:
"Vindictive streak"
Explanation:Refers to someone's tendency or inclination to seek revenge or retaliate in a relentless manner.
Misconceptions:
Some people may confuse vindictiveness with justified anger or seeking justice.
Explanation:While someone may have a legitimate reason to seek justice, vindictiveness goes beyond seeking fairness and involves an unreasoning desire for revenge.