US /əˈvɛndʒ/ UK /əˈvɛndʒ/
verb

Meanings

  1. 1
    verb

    to inflict harm in return for a wrong done

    He swore to avenge his brother's murder before the year was out.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 verb · to inflict harm in return... revengeretaliaterequitevindicatepunishredress
Word family
Forms unavenged
Derived forms avengeravengementavenging
Related forms vengeancevengefulrevengevindicate

Etymology

From Old French avengier, from a- (Latin ad-, 'to') + vengier ('to take vengeance'), from Latin vindicare ('to claim, avenge'), from vindex ('avenger, claimant').

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