Vengeance
/ˈvɛndʒəns/
nounB2
Definition
Vengeance is when a person tries to hurt or punish someone else because that person caused them pain or harm. It is often about making things fair again by getting back at someone who did something bad.
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See It in Action
The act of punishing someone because they caused harm
- •He sought vengeance after his family was wronged.
- •The story is about a warrior who takes vengeance on his enemies.
- •Vengeance can lead to more problems if it causes more fighting.
A strong desire to get back at someone for a wrong
- •She was filled with vengeance after the betrayal.
- •Sometimes vengeance makes people forget peace and kindness.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "vengeance" like "revenge" (a simpler word), but often stronger and more serious, like a strong desire to get even.
- ✓Picture someone who was hurt and then plans carefully to make the other person feel the same pain.
- ✓It's the feeling when you want to fix a wrong by making the person who hurt you suffer in return.
- ✓Sounds like "ven-JANCE" → imagine a dance where each step is a response to a hurt, a back-and-forth movement.
- ✓In stories, vengeance is like a hero or character who must punish a villain to restore justice.
- ✓NOT like "forgiveness" (letting go of anger), vengeance means holding on to anger and acting on it.
- ✓NOT like "punishment" given by a judge or police, vengeance is personal and done by the person who was hurt.
- ✓NOT like "revenge" which can be small or playful, vengeance is often serious and can be dangerous.
Try Other Words
- •Revenge: taking action to hurt someone who hurt you (Use when the feeling or action is less serious or smaller)
- •Retaliation: responding to an attack or harm with a similar action (Use in formal or military contexts)
- •Retribution: punishment that is deserved for a wrong (Use when focusing on justice or fairness)
- •Payback: informal word for getting even (Use in casual conversation)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "venge-" (from Latin root related to punishment) + "-ance" (a suffix that turns a verb into a noun meaning "the act or state of")
- •Etymology: From Old French "vengance," from Latin "vindicare" meaning to claim or punish
- •Historical development: Used since the 13th century to mean punishment or revenge for a wrong
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in literature, movies, and everyday speech to describe acts of getting even or punishing someone personally
Reflect & Connect
•Can vengeance ever bring true peace, or does it only cause more problems?
•How do different cultures view vengeance—do some see it as justice, others as harmful?
Fill in the blanks
1.People often seek vengeance because they want to ___ the pain they feel.
2.Vengeance is different from forgiveness because it ___ anger instead of letting it go.
3.In stories, vengeance usually happens after someone has been ___ or hurt.
4.Unlike punishment by the law, vengeance is a ___ action taken by the person wronged.
5.Vengeance can make conflicts ___ if people keep trying to get even.
6.When someone acts with vengeance, they often feel a strong ___ to respond.
7.Vengeance is not just about the action, but also about the ___ behind it.