vindictive

[vin-dik-tiv] /vɪnˈdɪk tɪv/

adjective

disposed or inclined to revenge; vengeful:

a vindictive person.

proceeding from or showing a revengeful spirit:

vindictive rumors.

Origin

1610-20; < Latin vindict(a) vengeance + -ive

Related forms

vindictively, adverb

vindictiveness, noun

unvindictive, adjective

unvindictively, adverb

unvindictiveness, noun

Can be confused

vindicatory, vindictive.

Synonyms

1. unforgiving. See spiteful.

Antonyms

1. forgiving.

Examples from the web for vindictive

Second, you indicate that you believe the requester has some kind of a vindictive or malicious motive.
Criticism is silently belittled as political disagreement, a settling of scores, as vindictive.
He was neurotic, vindictive and insensitive as well as charming, charismatic and full of warmth.
The evidence points to trickery and vindictive cruelty.
There's nothing more offensive than a vindictive joke that isn't funny.
And its pretty vindictive to judge special needs teachers on a test that's meant to judge average students.
The tabloids, affronted at being thwarted in the first place, switched from nudge-nudge admiration mode to vindictive puritanism.
But when she became outspoken, he alleges the royal family grew angry and vindictive.
Geo, come on, stop being so vindictive and listen to whats going on here.
He enjoyed a vindictive pleasure in outraging the opinions of a society which he despised.

British Dictionary definitions for vindictive

/vɪnˈdɪktɪv/

adjective

disposed to seek vengeance

characterized by spite or rancour

(English law) (of damages) in excess of the compensation due to the plaintiff and imposed in punishment of the defendant

Derived Forms

vindictively, adverb
vindictiveness, noun

Word Origin

C17: from Latin vindicta revenge, from vindicāre to vindicate

Word Origin and History for vindictive

adj.

1610s, from Latin vindicta "revenge" (see vindication). Related: Vindictively.