Taking action to punish someone for a wrong they did to you or someone else; seeking retribution or justice.
From Old French 'avengier' (to avenge), combining Latin 'ad-' (to) and 'vindicare' (to claim, punish). Related to 'avenge' and 'vindicate,' meaning to set right a wrong.
Stories about avenging a wrong are everywhere in myths and movies because 'vengeance' taps into something deep in humans—the desire to see wrongs made right—but here's the irony: in real life, psychologists say revenge usually makes people feel worse, not better.
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