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Avenge vs Retribute - What's the difference?

avenge | retribute |

As verbs the difference between avenge and retribute

is that avenge is to take vengeance (for); to exact satisfaction for by punishing the injuring party; to vindicate by inflicting pain or evil on a wrongdoer while retribute is to pay back; to give in return, as payment, reward, or punishment; to requite.

As a noun avenge

is a vengeance; a revenge.

avenge

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A vengeance; a revenge.

    • Verb

  • To take vengeance (for); to exact satisfaction for by punishing the injuring party; to vindicate by inflicting pain or evil on a wrongdoer.
    • to avenge the murder of his brother
  • * Milton
    • Avenge , O Lord, thy slaughtered saints, whose bones / Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold.
  • (obsolete) To take vengeance.
  • *
    • Thou shalt not avenge , nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
  • (archaic) To treat revengefully; to wreak vengeance on.
  • * Bishop Hall
    • thy judgment in avenging thine enemies

    Synonyms

    * (take vengeance) bewreak, get back at, retaliate, take revenge * (treat revengefully) spite * See also

    Anagrams

    *

    retribute

    English

    Verb

    (retribut)
  • To pay back; to give in return, as payment, reward, or punishment; to requite.
    • to retribute one for his kindness
    to retribute just punishment to a criminal
    (Locke)
    (Webster 1913)