Link Centre Dictionary

vindictive

vin·dic·tive

UK/vɪnˈdɪk.tɪv/ US/vɪˈndɪktɪv/ uncommon obsolete

adjective

1.

disposed to seek revenge or intended for revenge

  • “more vindictive than jealous love” Shakespeare
  • “punishments...essentially vindictive in their nature” M.R.Cohen
2.

showing malicious ill will and a desire to hurt; motivated by spite

  • “a despiteful fiend”
  • “a truly spiteful child”
  • “a vindictive man will look for occasions for resentment”
Similar

Origin

From Latin vindicta (“vengeance”) + -ive. Contrast Latin vindicātīvus.

Phrases

  • vindictive protectiveness

Related words

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.