If you say that someone is vindictive, you are critical of them because they deliberately try to upset or cause trouble for someone who they think has done them harm.
[disapproval]
How can you be so vindictive?
...a vindictive woman desperate for revenge against the man who loved and left her.
Synonyms: vengeful, malicious, spiteful, relentless More Synonyms of vindictive
vindictivenessuncountable noun
...a dishonest person who is operating completely out of vindictiveness.
vindictive in British English
(vɪnˈdɪktɪv)
adjective
1.
disposed to seek vengeance
2.
characterized by spite or rancour
3. English law
(of damages) in excess of the compensation due to the plaintiff and imposed in punishment of the defendant
Derived forms
vindictively (vinˈdictively)
adverb
vindictiveness (vinˈdictiveness)
noun
Word origin
C17: from Latin vindicta revenge, from vindicāre to vindicate
vindictive in American English
(vɪnˈdɪktɪv)
adjective
1.
revengeful in spirit; inclined to seek vengeance
2.
said or done in revenge; characterized by vengeance
vindictive punishment
SYNONYMY NOTE: vindictive stresses the unforgiving nature of one who is animated by a desire to get even withanother for a wrong, injury, etc. [vindictive feelings]; vengeful, revengeful more directly stress the strong impulsion to action and the actual seeking of vengeance[a vengeful, or revengeful, foe]; spiteful implies a mean or malicious vindictiveness [spiteful gossip]
Derived forms
vindictively (vinˈdictively)
adverb
vindictiveness (vinˈdictiveness)
noun
Word origin
< L vindicta, revenge, vindication < vindicatus (see vindicate) + -ive
Examples of 'vindictive' in a sentence
vindictive
He is not nasty or vindictive or malicious.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Are our democratically elected persons being vindictive?
The Sun (2014)
To me this seems petty and vindictive.
The Sun (2008)
This style of ignoring is not about withdrawing affection and is not meant as a malicious or vindictive act.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Because what they're doing is making business look unpleasant and nasty and vindictive.
The Sun (2013)
Washington agreed, for he was not a vindictive man.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
What a horrible, nasty, vindictive woman she is.
The Sun (2016)
Taken in isolation, my boss's actions seemed more petty than vindictive.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I personally do not get any pleasure from seeing people locked up for a long time, but these people were cruel and vindictive.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He'It such a shame that their is ruined and their future be ruined as well because of person 's vindictive behaviour.
The Sun (2006)
The notion seems to be that she is more victim than villain, with the real villain being a nasty, vindictive media industry.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I had no idea who this nasty, vindictive, evil person was.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
vindictive
British English: vindictive ADJECTIVE
If you say that someone is vindictive, you are critical of them because they deliberately try to upset or cause trouble for someone who they think has done them harm.
How can you be so vindictive?
American English: vindictive
Brazilian Portuguese: vingativo
Chinese: 想复仇的
European Spanish: vengativo
French: rancunier
German: nachtragend
Italian: vendicativo
Japanese: 報復的な
Korean: 앙심을 품은
European Portuguese: vingativo
Latin American Spanish: vengativo
Chinese translation of 'vindictive'
vindictive
(vɪnˈdɪktɪv)
adj
[person, action]报(報)复(復)性的 (bàofùxìng de)
(adjective)
Definition
characterized by spite or ill will
a vindictive woman desperate for revenge
Synonyms
vengeful
The people lived in fear of the vengeful tyrant.
malicious
She described the charges as malicious.
spiteful
He could be spiteful.
relentless
He was the most relentless enemy I have ever known.
resentful
He turned away in a resentful silence.
malignant
a malignant minority indulging in crime and violence
unrelenting
in the face of severe opposition and unrelenting criticism
unforgiving
implacable
the threat of invasion by a ruthless and implacable enemy
venomous
He made a venomous personal attack on his opponent.
rancorous
a series of rancorous disputes
revengeful
full of spleen
Opposites
generous
,
forgiving
,
relenting
,
merciful
,
magnanimous
,
unvindictive
Additional synonyms
in the sense of implacable
Definition
unyielding
the threat of invasion by a ruthless and implacable enemy
Synonyms
ruthless,
cruel,
relentless,
uncompromising,
intractable,
inflexible,
unrelenting,
merciless,
unforgiving,
inexorable,
unyielding,
remorseless,
pitiless,
unbending,
unappeasable
in the sense of malicious
She described the charges as malicious.
Synonyms
spiteful,
malevolent,
malignant,
vicious,
bitter,
resentful,
pernicious (formal),
vengeful,
bitchy (informal),
hateful,
baleful,
injurious,
rancorous,
catty (informal),
shrewish,
ill-disposed,
evil-minded,
ill-natured
in the sense of malignant
Definition
tending to cause great harm
a malignant minority indulging in crime and violence
Synonyms
hostile,
harmful,
bitter,
vicious,
destructive,
malicious,
malign,
hurtful,
pernicious (formal),
malevolent,
spiteful,
baleful,
injurious,
inimical,
maleficent,
of evil intent
Synonyms of 'vindictive'
vindictive
Explore 'vindictive' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of rancorous
a series of rancorous disputes
Synonyms
bitter,
hostile,
malicious,
malign,
resentful,
malignant,
acrimonious,
virulent,
vindictive,
implacable,
malevolent,
spiteful,
venomous,
splenetic
in the sense of relentless
Definition
(of a person) determined and pitiless
He was the most relentless enemy I have ever known.
Synonyms
merciless,
hard,
fierce,
harsh,
cruel,
grim,
ruthless,
uncompromising,
unstoppable,
inflexible,
unrelenting,
unforgiving,
inexorable,
implacable,
unyielding,
remorseless,
pitiless,
undeviating
in the sense of resentful
He turned away in a resentful silence.
Synonyms
bitter,
hurt,
wounded,
angry,
offended,
put out,
jealous,
choked,
pissed (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
incensed,
grudging,
exasperated,
aggrieved,
indignant,
pissed off (taboo, slang),
irate,
miffed (informal),
embittered,
unforgiving,
peeved (informal),
in a huff,
piqued,
huffy,
in high dudgeon,
revengeful,
huffish,
tooshie (Australian, slang)
in the sense of revengeful
Synonyms
vengeful,
bitter,
malicious,
resentful,
malignant,
merciless,
vindictive,
unforgiving,
implacable,
malevolent,
spiteful,
pitiless,
unmerciful
in the sense of spiteful
He could be spiteful.
Synonyms
malicious,
nasty,
vindictive,
cruel,
malignant,
barbed,
malevolent,
venomous,
bitchy (informal),
snide,
rancorous,
catty (informal),
splenetic,
shrewish,
ill-disposed,
ill-natured
in the sense of unrelenting
Definition
refusing to relent or take pity
in the face of severe opposition and unrelenting criticism
Synonyms
merciless,
tough,
ruthless,
relentless,
cruel,
stern,
inexorable,
implacable,
intransigent,
remorseless,
pitiless,
unsparing
in the sense of venomous
He made a venomous personal attack on his opponent.