I can't tell them apart
October 27, 2009 11:02 AM Subscribe
What exactly is the difference between "vengeance" and "revenge"?
I didn't think there was a difference, they're synonyms. damn not having access to OED when you need it
posted by Think_Long at 11:06 AM on October 27, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Think_Long at 11:06 AM on October 27, 2009 [1 favorite]
"Revenge is the act of passion, vengeance is an act of justice." - Samuel Johnson
posted by wannalol at 11:07 AM on October 27, 2009 [17 favorites]
posted by wannalol at 11:07 AM on October 27, 2009 [17 favorites]
I thought that "vengeance" carried a connotation of justice with it, while revenge was more subjective.
posted by fatbird at 11:10 AM on October 27, 2009
posted by fatbird at 11:10 AM on October 27, 2009
Best answer: Though they are frequently used interchangably, as indicated above, the words are different.
"Revenge" is almost always used to denote actions taken by an individual to right a wrong they have suffered.
"Vengeance" is often used in this way but need not be. It simply refers to the righting of a wrong, and can thus refer to actions taken by third parties.
It's the difference between "taking revenge" and "being avenged". The former is always something you do for yourself, while the latter can be done for you.
posted by valkyryn at 11:15 AM on October 27, 2009 [4 favorites]
"Revenge" is almost always used to denote actions taken by an individual to right a wrong they have suffered.
"Vengeance" is often used in this way but need not be. It simply refers to the righting of a wrong, and can thus refer to actions taken by third parties.
It's the difference between "taking revenge" and "being avenged". The former is always something you do for yourself, while the latter can be done for you.
posted by valkyryn at 11:15 AM on October 27, 2009 [4 favorites]
Lenny: There's nothing like revenge for getting back at people!
Carl: I dunno, vengeance isn't too bad either.
They're pretty interchangeable, although "vengeance" makes a better modifier, e.g. "revenge with a vengeance."
posted by Metroid Baby at 11:16 AM on October 27, 2009
Carl: I dunno, vengeance isn't too bad either.
They're pretty interchangeable, although "vengeance" makes a better modifier, e.g. "revenge with a vengeance."
posted by Metroid Baby at 11:16 AM on October 27, 2009
Vengeance is the energy that blinds one from freewill and causes them to become hell-bent on reprisal. Revenge is the ego's twisted logic in settling the score which has its ultimate roots in feeling better about oneself at the expense of another.
posted by watercarrier at 11:24 AM on October 27, 2009
posted by watercarrier at 11:24 AM on October 27, 2009
Vengence is the Lord's. Awe inspiring. Revenge is a bit more human. Faintly tawdry.
posted by IndigoJones at 11:45 AM on October 27, 2009 [4 favorites]
posted by IndigoJones at 11:45 AM on October 27, 2009 [4 favorites]
Revenge is a dish best served cold, whereas people have a thirst for vengeance.
posted by found missing at 12:08 PM on October 27, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by found missing at 12:08 PM on October 27, 2009 [2 favorites]
While they are pretty much synonymous, I agree that revenge is a more emotional, personal desire and vengeance is more of a logical, on principle type of thing.
posted by katemcd at 12:17 PM on October 27, 2009
posted by katemcd at 12:17 PM on October 27, 2009
I get revenge on the guy at work who eats my sandwich by putting cat shit in it.
I get vengeance on the same guy by putting in strychnine.
posted by coolguymichael at 12:20 PM on October 27, 2009
I get vengeance on the same guy by putting in strychnine.
posted by coolguymichael at 12:20 PM on October 27, 2009
Revenge is something tied to the person acting. Vengeance is tied to the person being acted upon.
posted by hippybear at 12:24 PM on October 27, 2009
posted by hippybear at 12:24 PM on October 27, 2009
Revenge can be a verb. Vengeance cannot.
"Certainly," said Melibeus, "I see well that you so strengthen your arguments that I shall not revenge myself upon my enemies, showing me thus the perils and the evils that may result from this taking of vengeance."
posted by lholladay at 12:44 PM on October 27, 2009
"Certainly," said Melibeus, "I see well that you so strengthen your arguments that I shall not revenge myself upon my enemies, showing me thus the perils and the evils that may result from this taking of vengeance."
posted by lholladay at 12:44 PM on October 27, 2009
lholladay: oh, now you've issued a challenge for someone to verbify that noun.
posted by hippybear at 12:57 PM on October 27, 2009
posted by hippybear at 12:57 PM on October 27, 2009
I would use avenge as the verb, rather than revenge.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 1:01 PM on October 27, 2009
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 1:01 PM on October 27, 2009
I would use avenge as the verb, rather than revenge.
I think you are correct in the examples you link to, e.g. I would never say "He revenged the murder." Avenge is better there. But revenge has a particular (archaic) use as a transitive verb that I just love the sound of.
posted by lholladay at 1:12 PM on October 27, 2009
I think you are correct in the examples you link to, e.g. I would never say "He revenged the murder." Avenge is better there. But revenge has a particular (archaic) use as a transitive verb that I just love the sound of.
posted by lholladay at 1:12 PM on October 27, 2009
Vengeance is something you already have - revenge is something you seek.
posted by watercarrier at 1:18 PM on October 27, 2009
posted by watercarrier at 1:18 PM on October 27, 2009
Vengeance = Samuel Jackson in Pulp Fiction
Revenge = Uma Thurman in Kill Bill
posted by watercarrier at 1:22 PM on October 27, 2009
Revenge = Uma Thurman in Kill Bill
posted by watercarrier at 1:22 PM on October 27, 2009
Revenge pretty much ends once you've taken it. Vengeance isn't ever satisfied, and can result in age long feuds such as between the Montagues and Capulets. Revenge is killing the guy who killed your significant other, vengeance is gypsy cursing him and his line forever. Revenge is coming back to life as a revenant to slay your murderer. Vengeance is returning as a ghost and haunting him the rest of his life.
posted by Caduceus at 1:33 PM on October 27, 2009
posted by Caduceus at 1:33 PM on October 27, 2009
From the Oxford English Dictionary, the first definition for each word, with etymology.
vengeance, n., adv., and a.
1. The act of avenging oneself or another; retributive infliction of injury or punishment; hurt or harm done from vindictive motives.
[a. AF. veniaunce, -ance, veng(e)aunce, -ance, = OF. and F. vengeance (It. vengianza, Sp. venganza, Pg. vinganza), f. venger VENGE v.]
revenge, n.
1. a. The act of doing hurt or harm to another in return for wrong or injury suffered; satisfaction obtained by repayment of injuries.
[f. the vb., or a. obs. F. revenge, var. of revenche, mod. revanche: see the vb.]
revenge, v.
1. a. refl. To avenge oneself; to take revenge on or upon (rarely of) a person for (or {dag}of) a wrong, injury, insult, etc., received or resented. Also without const.
[a. obs. F. revenger (var. of revencher, mod.F. revancher), f. re- RE- + venger to VENGE.]
posted by Anephim at 2:00 PM on October 27, 2009
vengeance, n., adv., and a.
1. The act of avenging oneself or another; retributive infliction of injury or punishment; hurt or harm done from vindictive motives.
[a. AF. veniaunce, -ance, veng(e)aunce, -ance, = OF. and F. vengeance (It. vengianza, Sp. venganza, Pg. vinganza), f. venger VENGE v.]
revenge, n.
1. a. The act of doing hurt or harm to another in return for wrong or injury suffered; satisfaction obtained by repayment of injuries.
[f. the vb., or a. obs. F. revenge, var. of revenche, mod. revanche: see the vb.]
revenge, v.
1. a. refl. To avenge oneself; to take revenge on or upon (rarely of) a person for (or {dag}of) a wrong, injury, insult, etc., received or resented. Also without const.
[a. obs. F. revenger (var. of revencher, mod.F. revancher), f. re- RE- + venger to VENGE.]
posted by Anephim at 2:00 PM on October 27, 2009
There are no synonyms in English.TM
That being said, most of the time, you can use these words interchangeably.
posted by 256 at 2:09 PM on October 27, 2009 [1 favorite]
That being said, most of the time, you can use these words interchangeably.
posted by 256 at 2:09 PM on October 27, 2009 [1 favorite]
For me the biggest difference is that vengeance is just and right. It refers to eye-for-an-eye, evening the score, making things right. It's measured. You can get the vengeance you sought and deserve and still be unsatisfied. It's motivated by a sense of justice.
Revenge, on the other hand, refers to making oneself feel better. If you've gotten revenge, well, then you've been satisfied. It's motivated by rage.
There are no synonyms in English.™
True dat. There are only people who miss the nuance.
posted by Netzapper at 3:37 PM on October 27, 2009
Revenge, on the other hand, refers to making oneself feel better. If you've gotten revenge, well, then you've been satisfied. It's motivated by rage.
There are no synonyms in English.™
True dat. There are only people who miss the nuance.
posted by Netzapper at 3:37 PM on October 27, 2009
Vengeance is a force of nature or of the divine that acts through someone. It is an eternal power that shows itself through physical results.
Revenge is a personal action taken to punish someone and satisfy oneself.
posted by alms at 4:59 PM on October 27, 2009
Revenge is a personal action taken to punish someone and satisfy oneself.
posted by alms at 4:59 PM on October 27, 2009
The dictionary may not agree, but I'd never say that vengeance represents someone's thirst for revenge (to me, that's vengefulness), but rather the outcome they seek or achieve through it.
By killing his stepfather, Hamlet found the vengeance he sought.
In this sense vengeance does have a relationship to justice in that it's a state.
Subjectively as well, you hear different prepositions with the two words, e.g. vengeance on implies that the object of the revenge is the point, but revenge for implies that the original slight is more important and the object merely incidental.
posted by dhartung at 10:46 PM on October 27, 2009
By killing his stepfather, Hamlet found the vengeance he sought.
In this sense vengeance does have a relationship to justice in that it's a state.
Subjectively as well, you hear different prepositions with the two words, e.g. vengeance on implies that the object of the revenge is the point, but revenge for implies that the original slight is more important and the object merely incidental.
posted by dhartung at 10:46 PM on October 27, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by reenum at 11:05 AM on October 27, 2009