Definitions
- Describing a person who seeks revenge for a perceived wrong or injustice. - Referring to a desire for retribution or retaliation against someone who has caused harm or injury. - Talking about a feeling of anger or resentment towards someone who has wronged you.
- Describing a person who is spiteful and seeks revenge for a perceived slight or insult. - Referring to a desire to hurt or harm someone who has caused offense or humiliation. - Talking about a feeling of malice or ill-will towards someone who has wronged you.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe a desire for revenge or retribution.
- 2Both words imply a negative attitude towards someone who has wronged you.
- 3Both words can be used to describe a person's behavior or actions.
What is the difference?
- 1Intensity: Vindictive implies a more intense desire for revenge than vengeful.
- 2Motive: Vindictive often implies a petty or selfish motive for seeking revenge, while vengeful may have a more justifiable motive.
- 3Scope: Vindictive may involve a desire to harm not only the person who wronged you but also innocent parties associated with them, while vengeful may be more focused on the specific person who caused harm.
- 4Connotation: Vindictive has a more negative connotation than vengeful, implying a more malicious or spiteful attitude.
- 5Usage: Vindictive is less commonly used than vengeful in everyday language.
Remember this!
Vengeful and vindictive are synonyms that both describe a desire for revenge or retribution. However, vindictive implies a more intense and malicious attitude towards the person who wronged you, often with a petty or selfish motive. In contrast, vengeful may have a more justifiable motive and is less negative in connotation.