Vengefulness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A mindset marked by a strong urge to inflict punishment on those who have caused suffering or harm to oneself or others
2. A temperament defined by a relentless pursuit of retaliation for real or imagined injustices or wrongdoing
3. A disposition characterized by an intense desire to seek retribution against individuals perceived to have committed offenses or grievances

Etymology: "Vengefulness" is a plain English compound: the adjective "vengeful" with the suffix "-ness" attached to turn a quality into a noun. The adjective itself comes from "vengeance," which entered English through Old French from Latin roots meaning to avenge or punish, and "vengeful" is built on that stem by adding "-ful," meaning full of. The suffix "-ness" has a long pedigree. It descends from Old English "-nes," which turned adjectives into abstract nouns, so that "good" gave "goodness" and "wise" gave "wiseness." This suffix has been productive for over a thousand years and remains one of the easiest ways to turn an adjective into a name for a state of mind or character. Because of this, "vengefulness" can be formed from any adjective of this kind without any special rules, which is why the word is so transparent to English speakers.

Synonyms: retribution, revenge, vengeance, payback, wrath

Antonyms: forgiveness, pardon, mercy, compassion, clemency