The words avenge, and revenge are related to retaliation, wherein avenge means to retaliate, and revenge implies retaliation for the wrong done to oneself. These not only sound alike, but their meaning is somewhat similar, which often creates confusion in people, but they are different.
While avenge not only deals with retaliating a wrong/bad but also to get justice on someone else’s behalf, revenge is like punishing somebody who has done wrong to you, by doing equally wrong to that person. Now look at these examples for better understanding of the difference between avenge and revenge:
- One can’t even imagine that the family would avenge for the fraud done to them.
- Joe is always ready to take revenge for whatever punishment he gets for his mistakes, but he never realizes, and accept it.
Content: Avenge Vs Revenge
Comparison Chart
| Basis for Comparison | Avenge | Revenge |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Avenge refers to causing harm to someone, against the injury or wrong done to oneself or someone else, for justice. | Revenge is when a person looks for reprisal due to the harm done to him or his loved ones, to punish the wrong doer. |
| Part of speech | Verb | Noun and verb |
| Pronunciation | əˈvɛn(d)ʒ | rɪˈvɛn(d)ʒ |
| Cause | For achieving justice | Personal retaliation |
| Intent | Good | Bad |
| Examples | Finally, the girl avenged for the betrayal. | Jay is angry after the betrayal, he may take revenge. |
| The wife vowed to avenge the demise of her husband. | Kate is seeking revenge against those who ditched her. |
Definition of Avenge
By the term ‘avenge’ we mean to look for retribution in the interest of oneself or someone else. As a verb, the word avenge means to punish or penalize someone who has done something wrong or bad with you, the people relating to you or somebody else, so as to gain equity.
In finer terms, avenge is all about punishing the wrongdoer, intending to get justice. You can take a read of these examples for better understanding:
- The policemen said, ‘he will avenge the victim’s death.’
- All the friends ganged up to avenge, for the injury caused to their group member.
- At the end of the video, the hero swore he would avenge for his insult.
- Avenge is the best way to let them realize their mistake.
Definition of Revenge
Revenge can be understood as the “act of hurting, harming, punishing or penalizing someone by going outside the law because he/she has done something wrong to you or your loved ones. It refers to retaliation for the wrong, injury or loss caused by someone else, so as to get even.
In other words, revenge is nothing but an outcome of a personal grudge which occurs as a response to a grievance, be it an injury or a wrong. The grievance may be real or imaginary. Revenge is more of a personal act and less about justice.
- I can’t be normal until I take revenge for the insult.
- Kate revenged her husband’s murder.
- There are many ways to make a person realize his mistake, rather than taking revenge.
- Why are you seeking revenge now, when the entire matter is closed?
Key Differences Between Avenge and Revenge
The difference between avenge and revenge can be drawn clearly on the following grounds:
- Avenge implies to impose a punishment or penalty to the person responsible for harming or causing any injury to you or any other person, in order to gain retributive justice. On the other hand, revenge is all about seeking retribution, to gain satisfaction by hurting or harming someone, in the same way in which that person hurts you.
- The word ‘avenge’ is a verb, but we can use the word ‘revenge’ both as a noun and a verb.
- As avenge looks for justice and equity, so it is taken with good intent. Conversely, revenge is always negative, as it is done out of anger or to get even or convert the insult into pride. Therefore, the intent with which revenge is taken is not good and may lead to repercussions.
- Avenge means to inflict punishment with the aim of achieving justice. As against, revenge is taking vengeance, for personal retaliation and gain satisfaction for oneself.
Examples
Avenge
- Peter determined himself to avenge his best friend’s insult.
- In the movie, the lead actor swore to avenge his sister’s murder.
Revenge
- Then, the girl decided to take revenge for the humiliation she suffered due to his boyfriend.
- Forgiving and forgetting is more satisfying than taking revenge.
How to remember the difference
To avenge is to react to the wrong or bad done to you, your loved ones or anyone else, by inflicting punishment on the person who has done that act, in the pursuit of justice. On the other hand, revenge is nothing but a counterstroke; it encompasses harm or injury done to another in response to the misdeed.
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