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Retaliatory vs Vindictive - What's the difference?

retaliatory | vindictive |

As adjectives the difference between retaliatory and vindictive

is that retaliatory is relating to or part of a retaliation while vindictive is having a tendency to seek revenge when wronged, vengeful.

retaliatory

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Relating to or part of a retaliation.
    • The hostile forces were at an impasse; neither could attack with enough force and still defend against the retaliatory counterattack.

    Synonyms

    * (done in retaliation ): punitive, retributive, vengeful

    vindictive

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Having a tendency to seek revenge when , vengeful.
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1920 , author=D. H. Lawrence , title=Women in Love , chapter=18 citation , passage=The vindictive mockery in her voice made his brain quiver.}}
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=1933 , author=H. G. Wells , title=The Shape of Things to Come citation , passage=The victors will exact vindictive penalties and the losers of course will undertake to pay, but none of them realizes that money is going to do the most extraordinary things to them when they begin upon that.}}
  • (obsolete) punitive

    • Synonyms

    * vengeful, revengeful, nasty * See also

    Derived terms

    * vindictively * vindictiveness

    Related terms

    * vindicate * vindication * vindicator

    External links

    * * *