revenge
harm done in return
The act of hurting or punishing someone because they hurt or harmed you first.
revenge on [someone] for [something]
- After years of bullying, he finally took revenge on his old classmates by exposing their messages online.
- The bomb was believed to be a revenge attack for the arrest of the gang leader.
- She wanted revenge for how badly he had treated her family.
- The film follows a woman on a brutal journey of revenge after her daughter is killed.
- Instead of seeking revenge, the community focused on rebuilding and healing.
- He planned revenge on the man who stole his car.
- She wanted revenge for her brother’s death.
- The group attacked the police station in revenge for the arrests.
- In the end, he decided that revenge was not a good answer.
- They shouted that the bombing was revenge on their enemies.
desire to hurt in return
A strong feeling that you want to hurt or punish someone because they hurt you first.
[someone]'s revenge for [something]
- His thirst for revenge consumed him and ruined every other part of his life.
- The crime was not about money; it was pure revenge for a long‑running feud.
- She refused to let revenge guide her decisions, even after everything that had happened.
- Many online hate campaigns are fueled by revenge after breakups or public arguments.
- The character’s slow turn from grief to revenge is the heart of the series.
- He lived with a strong desire for revenge.
- Her heart was full of revenge after the divorce.
- The attack was done out of revenge, not for money.
- Revenge was the main reason for his actions.
- She tried to let go of revenge and move on.
to punish in return
To hurt or punish someone because they hurt you before; in modern English, usually said as "revenge yourself on someone" and mainly used in formal or literary style.
to revenge [oneself] on [someone] for [something]
- She swore she would revenge herself on those who had betrayed her.
- In the play, the prince seeks to revenge his father’s murder.
- They planned to revenge themselves on the corrupt officials who had stolen their savings.
- The defeated team returned the next season to revenge their earlier loss.
- He waited patiently for years to revenge himself on his former business partner.
- In the story, the hero wants to revenge himself on the king.
- She plans to revenge herself on the man who lied to her.
- They come back to revenge their defeat in last year’s final.
- He is ready to revenge himself on his enemies.
- The movie shows a woman who tries to revenge her sister’s death.
- Base: revenge
- Plural: revenge
- Base: revenge
- 3rd Person Singular: revenges
- Present Participle: revenging
- Past: revenged
get revenge (on [someone] for [something])
1successfully pay someone back
To succeed in hurting or punishing someone because they hurt you first.
- He finally got revenge on his cheating business partner.
- She got revenge for the joke by posting an embarrassing video of him.
- The team got revenge on their rivals with a 4–0 win.
in revenge (for [something])
1as payback for something
Done as a way to answer or punish someone for something bad they did before.
- The car was set on fire in revenge for the arrest.
- He spread rumors about her in revenge for the criticism.
- They launched a cyber‑attack in revenge for the data leak.
out of revenge
1motivated by revenge
Because of a feeling of revenge; as the main reason to hurt or punish someone.
- She sent the private photos to his parents out of revenge.
- Many crimes are committed out of revenge rather than for money.
- He wondered if she broke his phone out of revenge.
revenge body
1improved body after breakup
A much fitter or more attractive body that someone gets after a breakup, mainly so that their ex‑partner will feel sorry or jealous.
- Magazines often praise celebrities for showing off a "revenge body" after a bad breakup.
- She joked that her gym routine was all about getting a revenge body.
- The idea of a revenge body can put unhealthy pressure on people after relationships end.
revenge porn
1non‑consensual sexual image sharing
The crime or act of sharing someone’s sexual photos or videos without their consent in order to hurt them, usually after a breakup or fight.
- Many countries have made revenge porn a criminal offense.
- She spoke publicly about her experience with revenge porn to help change the law.
- Social media companies are under pressure to remove revenge porn more quickly.
revenge sex
1sex to upset an ex
Sex with a new person mainly to make a former partner feel bad or jealous after they hurt you.
- Her friends told her that revenge sex would just make her feel worse.
- The show treats revenge sex as a normal reaction after a breakup.
- He admitted he had revenge sex to get back at his ex‑girlfriend.
revenge tragedy
1tragedy centered on revenge
A kind of play or story, especially from the past, where the main character tries to kill or hurt someone to pay back a murder or other terrible act.
- Shakespeare’s "Hamlet" is often described as a classic revenge tragedy.
- The film borrows many elements from the traditional revenge tragedy.
- In a typical revenge tragedy, the hero’s search for justice destroys him.
take revenge (on [someone] for [something])
1harm someone in return
To hurt or punish someone because they hurt or harmed you earlier.
- She took revenge on her ex‑boss for firing her without warning.
- The villagers swore they would take revenge on the soldiers for burning their homes.
- He waited years to take revenge for the insult.
revenge is sweet
1enjoyment from successful revenge
People say this when someone feels happy and satisfied after they successfully hurt or punish a person who hurt them.
- As he watched his former boss get fired, he smiled and whispered, "Revenge is sweet."
- She knew revenge is sweet, but it didn’t fix the past.
- When their team finally beat the champions, the coach joked, "Revenge is sweet!"
revenge is sweet
2satisfaction from revenge
People feel happy when they hurt someone who hurt them first.
- He smiled—revenge is sweet.
- When she beat her old rival, she thought, 'Revenge is sweet.'
seek revenge
1try to punish someone back
To try to hurt someone because they hurt you first.
- He sought revenge on those who betrayed him.
- The main character spends the whole movie seeking revenge for his family’s death.
- She was determined to seek revenge after the insult.
- Rather than seeking revenge, she chose to rebuild her life.
- He left the gang because he was tired of always seeking revenge.