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vengefully

vengefully

1 6.8
In a way that shows a strong wish to punish someone for something they did
  • adverb
  • /ˈvɛnʤfəlɪ/
translation icon : vengativamente
  • A few drinks and rounds of theater sparring later, in response to another of my provocations, Eunice, in one furious motion, sprang from the love seat and landed standing a foot in front of my chair, her eyes blazing vengefully at the poacher who had invaded her coop.

Examples

  • She's talking while vengefully chasing their cats, the cordless phone cradled like a papoose at the interstice of ear, hand, and shoulder.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • To the liberals, he was a shameless self-promoter who had vengefully destroyed a fine man.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • This resulted in it vengefully staking its claim over me.

    Blog text (15)
  • Aiming it at Batman, he vengefully presses the button.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • His head is bloodied, his expression vengefully grim.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Lana turns to look up toward the landing, a vengefully insane smile clouding her face.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • She vengefully sought to ruin his career after he betrayed her trust.

  • The villain laughed vengefully as he plotted his revenge against the hero.

  • He acted vengefully, determined to make his former partner regret their decision.

Synonyms

vindictively
vsvengefully
1 8.1

In a way that tries to hurt someone because you want revenge

shows a strong desire to punish someone not necessarily from spite
revengefully
vsvengefully
6.9

Doing something to hurt someone who hurt you

focuses on a strong wish to punish someone rather than simple retaliation

Antonyms

1 4.4

In a kind way that does not stay angry

How Vengeful

mercilessly
22 6.4
vindictively
1 8.1
vengefully
1 6.8
spitefully
2 7.0
resentfully
1 5.8

Surface Forms

vengefully positive

Morphology

vengefully = vengeful (transparent) = venge + ful + ly

The adverb is a straightforward -ly derivation from the adjective 'vengeful', so the step from 'vengeful' to 'vengefully' is directly predictable by learners.

Etymology

Vengefully comes from vengeance, which comes from old words meaning 'to punish' or 'to take revenge', and you can see the same idea in the common word revenge. So to act vengefully is to want to punish someone or to get revenge.