revenge synonyms

revenge

n.

  1. The act of returning an injury

    vengeance, requital, reprisal, getting even, measure for measure, an eye for an eye, blow for blow, tit for tat, repayment, return of evil for evil, counterattack, sortie, counterinsurgency, retaliation, retribution, avenging, paying back, settling accounts; see also attack 1.

    Antonyms pardon*, forgiveness*, excusing.

  2. The desire to obtain revenge

    vindictiveness, rancor, implacability, ruthlessness, malevolence, vengefulness, spitefulness, ill-will, animus, vendetta; see also hate, malice.

revenge

v.

avenge, retaliate, vindicate, requite, get even with, take revenge, have one's revenge, breathe vengeance, wreak one's vengeance, exact retribution, pay back, pay off, make reprisal, punish, repay, repay in kind, return like for like, return blow for blow, give tit for tat, reciprocate, settle accounts, square accounts, settle up, pay back in one's own coin, take an eye for an eye, turn the tables on, get back at, fight back, be out for blood, give an exchange, give and take, give someone their just deserts, get satisfaction, even the score, get*, fix*, give someone their comeuppance*, pay off old scores*, settle a score*, return the compliment*, pay back in spades*, fix one's wagon*, give a taste of one's own medicine*, give as good as one gets*.

Antonyms forgive*, condone*, pardon.

revenge implies the infliction of punishment as an act of retaliation, usually for an injury against oneself, and connotes personal malice, bitter resentment, or vindictive spirit as the moving force; avenge implies the infliction of deserved or just punishment for wrongs or oppression

Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.