revenge

Harming or upsetting someone because you believe they harmed or upset you.

• He wanted revenge.
• She took revenge by hiding his keys.
• Their plan for revenge only caused more trouble.

How to use it: revenge on someone for something (She wanted revenge on him for the betrayal.)

Similar words: retaliation

Common phrases: take revenge, seek revenge, revenge on someone, revenge for something

To hurt someone in return for something they did to you.

• She swore to revenge herself.
• He revenged himself on the cruel king.
• They hoped to revenge themselves on those who had betrayed them.

How to use it: revenge oneself on someone (He planned to revenge himself on his enemy.)

Similar words: avenge oneself

Common phrases: revenge yourself on someone, revenge oneself

To punish someone for harming a person, or to defeat them after an earlier loss.

• They vowed to revenge his death.
• The team revenged its earlier defeat.
• She fought to revenge the wrong done to her family.

Similar words: avenge

Common phrases: revenge a death, revenge a defeat