What does vindictiveness mean?
Vindictiveness is the quality of holding a strong and persistent desire to retaliate against someone who has caused an injury, insult, or perceived wrong. It suggests more than ordinary annoyance or resentment: the person is motivated by revenge and may deliberately seek another person's suffering or disgrace. The word commonly describes personal conflicts, but it can also refer to political, institutional, or group behaviour, such as vindictiveness toward opponents. Because it is strongly evaluative, vindictiveness is usually used critically rather than neutrally. Related terms include vindictive, an adjective describing a person or attitude marked by revenge, and vengeful, which similarly emphasizes retaliatory intent. Vindictiveness is distinct from vindication, meaning the clearing of someone's name or the justification of an action. Although the plural form is grammatically possible, the word is ordinarily treated as an abstract, uncountable noun and is normally used in the singular.
nounThe quality or characteristic of being vindictive; a persistent desire to retaliate against someone or to see them suffer.
- The quality or characteristic of being vindictive, especially a persistent desire to retaliate against someone or cause them harm.
- The attitude or conduct of a person who seeks revenge for a perceived injury or wrong.
"Her refusal to consider the apology revealed a deep and stubborn vindictiveness."
"Years later, he was still unable to overcome the vindictiveness that had driven his accusation."
"The report criticized the minister's vindictiveness toward critics of the policy."
A rare plural of an abstract noun that is normally used in the singular or uncountably.
"The catalogue described the separate vindictivenesses of the two rival factions."
Vindictiveness hides an unexpected legal idea: its Latin root, vindicare, originally meant “to justify” or “to defend,” before the word came to evoke revenge.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does vindictiveness come from?
Vindictiveness ultimately comes from Latin vindicare, meaning “to justify,” “to defend,” or “to avenge,” and from the adjective vindictive, meaning “punitive” or “disposed to revenge.” In English, vindictive developed from the earlier sense of claiming or asserting a right, particularly a right to punishment, before becoming closely associated with revenge. Vindictiveness is the noun formed from that adjective. Cognate words include vindicate, vindication, and vindicatory, all of which share the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How vindictiveness is actually used
The word is generally used in a disapproving register and conveys a sustained, deliberate desire for revenge. It is usually uncountable, although a rare plural form is possible.
Easily confused with vindictiveness
Vindictiveness means a desire for revenge, whereas vindication means the act of clearing someone or something of blame.