adjective
Having or showing a strong or unreasoning desire for revenge.
‘the criticism was both vindictive and personalized’
- ‘Never the less, it also makes me extremely bitter and vindictive and say horrid things.’
- ‘Everything conspires to bring out the worst in him as he turns petty, malicious and vindictive.’
- ‘Though Scylla is bent, harsh, and angry, the source of her rage is not vindictive.’
- ‘Wilson thought both France and Britain were being too vindictive and unreasonable.’
- ‘This legislation can be used by malicious and vindictive people to get at their neighbours who might have a puppy or a dog next door.’
- ‘Les had gone into the deal with full understanding of how vindictive and unforgiving Arnie and those in his organization could be.’
- ‘The state has proved how nasty and vindictive it can be over all this.’
- ‘The only way this expulsion can be interpreted is as a spiteful and vindictive move.’
- ‘It is childish and hateful to manufacture petty, vindictive cliques who seem to thrive on aloofness, exclusivity and secrecy.’
- ‘Those opposing him were so vindictive, untrue and stupid that they helped his cause even more than those that praised him.’
- ‘How much more harsh and vindictive can our magistrates be?’
- ‘The vindictive politics of the period may have pushed the nation over the abyss, but at least the cadres were squeaky clean.’
- ‘As well as levelling whole cities, the forces of nature pursue and torment individuals in the most vindictive and sadistic manner.’
- ‘Of course, the senior officers ran the risk of incurring the wrath of a vindictive and ruthless Chief Minister.’
- ‘If it was (as she claims) an accident, it was unfortunately timed to appear like a vindictive fit of pique.’
- ‘Goerge says public record will show that he is not a vindictive person.’
- ‘The losers must not be vindictive and the winners must not be arrogant.’
- ‘For the life of me I can't understand the vindictive nature of their comments.’
- ‘And then you can send off vindictive messages to the spammers, telling them you told on them.’
- ‘What kind of idyll was it that was supposed to emerge from this ugly, vindictive battle?’
vengeful, out for revenge, revengeful, avenging, unforgiving, grudge-bearing, resentful, ill-disposed, implacable, unrelenting, acrimonious, bitter
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Origin
Early 17th century from Latin vindicta ‘vengeance’+ -ive.