vindictive

Meanings

• adjective

  Showing a desire to harm or punish someone, typically because they believe they have been treated unfairly.

  - "His vindictive ex-wife sought revenge for every perceived slight."
  - "The vindictive politician's actions were driven by a deep-seated desire for retribution."

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Pronunciation

1. 
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75857810"

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Synonyms

nasty , revengeful , vengeful

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with vindictive
indictive , recitative , dictative

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Variants

List of all variants of vindictive that leads to same result
vindictive , vindictively , vindictiveness , vindictivenesses

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From the Latin 'vindicare' meaning 'to plead the cause of, to claim, to avenge'.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The word 'vindictive' has six syllables.

2. The term 'vindictive' has been used in English since the late 1400s.

3. In some cultures, the 'vindictive' personality type is believed to be associated with a higher risk of heart disease.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. revenge: The desire to inflict harm or injury on someone as retaliation for a perceived wrong or injury.

2. retribution: The act of making someone pay for a wrong or injury that they have caused.

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Quotes

Quotes by authors and personalities

1. Well, maybe actually waging vendettas is a bad idea, but to be known for your vindictiveness can be a great advantage, for then people will take care not to cross you. And maybe the surest way of acquiring a reputation for vindictiveness is actually to be "vindictive".

   - David Papineau,{it}New York Times Book Review{/it},11 May 1997

2. It is not true that suffering ennobles the character; happiness does that sometimes, but suffering, for the most part, makes men petty and "vindictive".

   - W. Somerset Maugham,{it}The Moon and Sixpence{/it},1919

3. In observing so long a silence I have been influenced much more by a "vindictive" purpose,—a purpose to punish you for your suspicion that I could possibly feel myself hurt or offended by any critical suggestion of yours …

   - William Cowper,26 Feb. 1791,{"source"=>"in {it}William Cowper's Letters{/it}, Edward Verrall Lucas, editor", "aqdate"=>"1924"}

4. And though his [John Simon's] caustic wit can sometimes sound more personally "vindictive" than objectively critical, it allows him to plow through a lot of literary pretentiousness.

   - Andrea Barnet,{it}New York Times Book Review{/it},19 Mar. 1989

5. The bear, seen in many aspects as humanlike, was subject to ambivalent attitudes: mainly, he was seen as a stand-in for benevolent supernaturals, but sometimes also as a dangerous and at times a "vindictive" and harmful one.

   - William W. Fitzhugh & Aron Crowell,{it}Crossroads of Continents{/it},1988

6. A machine gun lashed at him from across the river.  … In the darkness, it spat a "vindictive" white light like an acetylene torch, and its sound was terrifying.

   - Norman Mailer,{it}The Naked and the Dead{/it},1948

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, the 'vindictive' character is often portrayed as seeking revenge or retribution. In art, the concept of vindictiveness can be represented through various mediums, such as sculpture or painting, that depict figures seeking retribution or vengeance.

How to Memorize "vindictive"

1. visualize
   

   - Visualize a person with a scowl on their face, clenching their fists, and plotting their revenge against someone who has wronged them.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'vindictive' with the word 'revenge' to help remember its meaning.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Create a mnemonic phrase such as 'Vengeful Indictment Drives Cruel Harsh Intentions' to help remember the meaning of the word.

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