Revenge vs. Vengeance: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Revenge is an act of retaliating to right a wrong or harm, often personal and emotional. Vengeance is a retaliatory response, typically more formal and focused on justice or retribution.
Key Differences
Revenge is commonly driven by personal feelings and a desire to retaliate for a perceived wrong. It often involves emotional satisfaction. Vengeance, on the other hand, tends to be less about personal feelings and more about achieving a sense of justice or retribution, often in a more calculated manner.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
The nature of revenge is typically impulsive and emotionally charged. It's a direct response to a personal grievance. Vengeance, while also a response to wrongdoing, usually involves a more deliberate plan and a focus on proportionality, often seeking to restore balance or order.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
Revenge can be seen as a more personal act, where the individual feels wronged and seeks satisfaction through retaliation. Vengeance, in contrast, can have a broader scope, sometimes involving societal or cultural norms of justice and retribution, and can be perceived as a moral or ethical response.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
The scale and scope of revenge are usually smaller, often involving direct parties to a conflict or grievance. Vengeance can be broader, potentially involving groups, communities, or even nations, and may be carried out in a way that aligns with legal or cultural standards of justice.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
In terms of legality and social perception, revenge is often seen in a negative light, associated with personal vendettas and lawlessness. Vengeance, however, can sometimes be seen as a justified or even noble response, especially when it aligns with legal or ethical standards.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Emotion vs. Justice
Driven by personal feelings.
Focused on justice or retribution.
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Impulsiveness
Often impulsive and emotional.
More calculated and deliberate.
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Nov 17, 2023
Personal vs. Broad Scope
Personal and direct.
Can involve broader societal norms.
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Nov 17, 2023
Legality and Perception
Seen negatively, as lawless.
Sometimes viewed as justified.
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Nov 17, 2023
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Revenge and Vengeance Definitions
Revenge
Retaliation for wrongs, driven by personal feelings.
She took revenge on her bully by outperforming him in the competition.
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Nov 17, 2023
Vengeance
A calculated response to right a wrong.
Her vengeance was methodical, ensuring justice was served.
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Nov 17, 2023
Revenge
An act of retribution, often emotionally motivated.
His revenge was swift, publicly exposing the deceit of his rival.
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Nov 17, 2023
Vengeance
Retaliation in the pursuit of justice.
He sought vengeance for the injustice suffered by his community.
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Nov 17, 2023
Revenge
Personal retribution, often impulsive and emotional.
His quest for revenge led him down a dangerous path.
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Nov 17, 2023
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Vengeance
Retribution based on ethical or moral grounds.
The hero took vengeance against the corrupt regime for its tyranny.
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Nov 17, 2023
Revenge
An action taken in response to a personal wrong.
She plotted revenge against those who betrayed her trust.
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Nov 17, 2023
Vengeance
The pursuit of retribution for a broader cause.
The group's vengeance was aimed at those who had oppressed them for years.
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Nov 17, 2023
Revenge
Personal retaliation to settle a grievance.
In revenge for the insult, he spread rumors about his adversary.
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Nov 17, 2023
Vengeance
Justice-oriented retaliation, often beyond personal grievances.
Their vengeance was not just for personal wrongs, but for societal injustices.
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Nov 17, 2023
Vengeance
Infliction of punishment in return for a wrong committed; retribution.
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Oct 19, 2023
Revenge
(Archaic) To seek or take vengeance for (oneself or another person); avenge.
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Oct 19, 2023
Revenge
The act of taking vengeance for injuries or wrongs; retaliation
Took revenge on her tormentors.
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Oct 19, 2023
Revenge
A desire for revenge; spite or vindictiveness
He did it out of revenge.
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Oct 19, 2023
Vengeance
Punishment inflicted in return for an injury or an offense; retribution; - often, in a bad sense, passionate or unrestrained revenge.
To me belongeth vengeance and recompense.
To execute fierce vengeance on his foes.
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Oct 19, 2023
Revenge
An opportunity to retaliate, as by a return sports match after a defeat
After the loss, he demanded that he be given his revenge.
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Oct 19, 2023
Revenge
Something done in retaliation, especially a defeat of a rival who has been victorious.
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Oct 19, 2023
Vengeance
The act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done) especially in the next life;
Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord
For vengeance I would do nothing. This nation is too great to look for mere revenge
He swore vengeance on the man who betrayed him
The swiftness of divine retribution
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Oct 19, 2023
Revenge
Any form of personal, retaliatory action against an individual, institution, or group for some alleged or perceived harm or injustice.
Indifference is the sweetest revenge.
When I left my wife, she tried to set fire to the house in revenge.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Revenge
(transitive) To take revenge for (a particular harmful action) or on behalf of (its victim); to avenge.
Arsenal revenged their loss to Manchester United last time with a 5–0 drubbing this time.
Shumaila Saeed
Oct 19, 2023
Revenge
To inflict harm in return for, as an injury, insult, etc.; to exact satisfaction for, under a sense of injury; to avenge; - followed either by the wrong received, or by the person or thing wronged, as the object, or by the reciprocal pronoun as direct object, and a preposition before the wrong done or the wrongdoer.
To revenge the death of our fathers.
The gods are just, and will revenge our cause.
Come, Antony, and young Octavius, come,Revenge yourselves alone on Cassius.
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Oct 19, 2023
Revenge
To inflict injury for, in a spiteful, wrong, or malignant spirit; to wreak vengeance for maliciously.
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Oct 19, 2023
Revenge
The act of revenging; vengeance; retaliation; a returning of evil for evil.
Certainly, in taking revenge, a man is even with his enemy; but in passing it over he is superior.
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Oct 19, 2023
Revenge
The disposition to revenge; a malignant wishing of evil to one who has done us an injury.
Revenge now goesTo lay a complot to betray thy foes.
The indulgence of revenge tends to make men more savage and cruel.
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Oct 19, 2023
Revenge
Take revenge for a perceived wrong;
He wants to avenge the murder of his brother
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can vengeance be legal?
Yes, if it aligns with legal or cultural norms of justice.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 17, 2023
What defines revenge?
Revenge is personal retaliation for a wrong or harm suffered.
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Nov 17, 2023
Is revenge always illegal?
Not always, but it can often lead to illegal or unethical actions.
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Nov 17, 2023
Does vengeance involve planning?
Vengeance often involves more deliberate planning and thought.
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Nov 17, 2023
Is revenge more emotional?
Yes, revenge is typically driven by strong personal emotions.
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Nov 17, 2023
What is the essence of vengeance?
Vengeance is seeking justice or retribution, often beyond personal grievances.
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Nov 17, 2023
Can revenge be justified?
It can be subjectively justified but is often viewed negatively.
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Nov 17, 2023
Can vengeance be collective?
Yes, it can involve groups or communities seeking justice.
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Nov 17, 2023
Do both terms imply harm?
Yes, both involve retaliatory actions that can cause harm.
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Nov 17, 2023
Is vengeance about restoring balance?
Often, vengeance aims to restore balance or order.
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Nov 17, 2023
Do both terms have the same origin?
They have different etymological origins but similar meanings.
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Nov 17, 2023
Is revenge personal?
Yes, revenge is usually a response to personal grievances.
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Nov 17, 2023
Are there cultural differences in these concepts?
Yes, cultural perspectives on revenge and vengeance can vary widely.
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Nov 17, 2023
Does vengeance have to be violent?
Not necessarily; it can be pursued through legal or ethical means.
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Nov 17, 2023
Can revenge be positive?
While typically seen as negative, some argue it can bring closure.
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Nov 17, 2023
Is vengeance associated with law?
Vengeance can be associated with the pursuit of justice, sometimes within the law.
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Nov 17, 2023
Do both terms evolve over time?
Yes, the interpretation and application of both concepts evolve culturally and socially.
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Nov 17, 2023
Can vengeance be seen as noble?
In some contexts, vengeance can be viewed as a noble pursuit of justice.
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Nov 17, 2023
Can revenge lead to cycles of violence?
Revenge often leads to ongoing cycles of retaliation.
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Nov 17, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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