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View synonyms for

avenge

[ uh-venj ]

verb (used with object)

avenged, avenging.
  1. to take vengeance or exact satisfaction for:

    to avenge a grave insult.

    Antonyms:

  2. to take vengeance on behalf of:

    He avenged his brother.



avenge

/ əˈɛԻ /

verb

  1. usually tr to inflict a punishment in retaliation for (harm, injury, etc) done to (a person or persons); take revenge for or on behalf of

    to avenge a murdered friend

    to avenge a crime

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Usage

The use of avenge with a reflexive pronoun was formerly considered incorrect, but is now acceptable: she avenged herself on the man who killed her daughter
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Derived Forms

  • ˈԲ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ·Բ·ڳܱ adjective
  • ·Բ· noun
  • ·Բ·Բ· adverb
  • ܲ··Բ adjective
  • ܲ··Բ·Բ adjective
  • un··Բ·Բ· adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of avenge1

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English avengen, from Old French avengier, equivalent to a- prefix meaning “toward, increase” ( a- 5 ) + vengier, from Latin Ի徱; vindicate
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Word History and Origins

Origin of avenge1

C14: from Old French avengier, from vengier, from Latin Ի徱; see vengeance , vindicate
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Synonym Study

Avenge, revenge both imply to inflict pain or harm in return for pain or harm inflicted on oneself or those persons or causes to which one feels loyalty. The two words were formerly interchangeable, but have been differentiated until they now convey widely diverse ideas. Avenge is now restricted to inflicting punishment as an act of retributive justice or as a vindication of propriety: to avenge a murder by bringing the criminal to trial. Revenge implies inflicting pain or harm to retaliate for real or fancied wrongs; a reflexive pronoun is often used with this verb: Iago wished to revenge himself upon Othello.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Eubank avenged that defeat with a dominant win inside the distance eight months later.

From

But she’s unprepared to face Abby, a woman driven to avenge the loss of another great man cut down in a senseless murder – one that Joel committed and lied about to Ellie.

From

To avenge Ali's death, Salah is then killed.

From

She doesn’t shy away from the thornier feelings of adolescence, such as grief, isolation and revenge, the latter of which is the driving force of this installment as Rosie seeks to avenge her mother’s murder.

From

Anyone who likes this kind of pulp knows these avenging angel characters are more or less the same: intense, taciturn, minimalist.

From

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