How does a vindictive person act?
Asked by: Annabel Parker | Last update: August 30, 2025Score: 5/5 (7 votes)
In general, someone who is vindictive might tend to hold grudges and “get back at you” when they feel you've wronged them in some way.
How can you tell if someone is vindictive?
Examples of vindictive narcissistic behaviors include: Using excessive criticism to embarrass or belittle someone who dismissed their opinion or idea. Keeping track of people who have wronged them. Sabotaging a coworker or boss because of being passed over for a promotion.
How do vindictive people act?
A vindictive person is one who will seek revenge for anything they feel has been an injustice to them. The revenge is likely to be twice as harsh as the perceived foul and worse, done in a covert manner or even an ambush. Best to avoid those who have the energy to be vindictive rather than to rise above it.
What is the root cause of vindictiveness?
Previous studies have linked vindictive behavior with emotional instability, anger, narcissism and lack of empathy and forgiveness, but still individuals frequently express this tendency.
What is an example of vindictive person?
having or showing a desire to harm someone because you think that the person has harmed you; unwilling to forgive: She was immature, spiteful, even vindictive at times. (Definition of vindictive from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
10 Signs of Vindictive Narcissism
What personality type is vindictive?
“Vindictive” refers more to how someone with the disorder may act in some situations. A vindictive behavior in someone with narcissistic personality might be an extreme manifestation of their symptoms. It's usually a result of what some experts call narcissistic rage.
What is an example of spiteful behavior?
If you act or speak with the desire to hurt, bother, or infuriate someone, you are being spiteful. You could deliberately hurt someone's feelings or embarrass them with your spiteful words, or you could watch a jealous child give her friend a spiteful shove.
What is the difference between spiteful and vindictive?
Synonym Study
Spiteful, revengeful, vindictive refer to a desire to inflict a wrong or injury on someone, usually in return for one received. Spiteful implies a mean or malicious desire for (often petty) revenge: a spiteful attitude toward a former friend.
Who is a vindictive character?
Vindictive characters can be highly loyal to the people they trust, standing up and going to bat for them when they're wronged. Their desire for revenge also requires strong focus, which can be positively applied to other areas of life.
What is the spirit of vindictiveness?
noun. a vengeful character or quality; a spirit of revenge: Grudges, vindictiveness, jealousies, and so on are part of being human, but must be separated from hiring decisions.
How does a vengeful person act?
Lack of empathy is a distinctive trait of vengeful people. They find it difficult to put themselves in other people's shoes and understand their feelings. This leads them to act impulsively and selfishly, putting their interpersonal relationships at risk.
How do you protect yourself from a vindictive person?
- Set boundaries and enforce them. ...
- Don't engage with the narcissist's provocations.
- Talk to someone about what you're going through. ...
- Take care of yourself emotionally and physically. ...
- Stay strong!
What happens after a narcissist breaks up with you?
When a narcissist's fragile ego gets hurt, all hell can break loose, and it's not uncommon for them to lash out by stalking or launching smear campaigns against their exes. They also might try showering their exes with displays of affection in order to win them back, Durvasula says.
What is the psychology of a vindictive person?
Vindictive people have an interesting personality and mindset. They truly believe they are entitled to get what they want. When they don't get what they want, they retaliate. The vindictive person may get worse if they are existing in a toxic family dynamic.
What does God say about being vindictive?
Romans 12:17-21
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Therefore " If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."
How to stop being vindictive?
- Get some distance from the conflict. ...
- Understand that revenge is not a constructive conflict resolution. ...
- Realise that carrying anger and seeking revenge consumes your energy and your time. ...
- Know that you have a choice. ...
- Use empathy and honesty to help ease yourself away from the need for revenge.
How to spot a vindictive person?
The 10 signs of vindictive narcissism are vindictive behavior, unpredictable mood swings, obsession with control, public displays of superiority, gaslighting, silent treatment, triangulation, disproportionate retaliation, holding grudges, sly sabotage, and spreading false narratives.
What personalities seek revenge?
Psychopathy, characterized by its lack of empathy and consideration for others, also intensifies the tendency to ruminate about revenge. A 2023 study offers the explanation of a lack of 'effortful control' in individuals high in dark traits.
What is an example of being vindictive?
People who hold grudges and seek revenge are full of vindictiveness. If someone steps on your toe, and you put on boots to stomp back, you're full of vindictiveness. Use the noun vindictiveness to describe the need for vengeance, or the urge to retaliate against someone who's done you wrong.
What is Vindictive Behaviour?
: disposed to seek revenge : vengeful. b. : intended for or involving revenge. 2. : intended to cause anguish or hurt : spiteful.
What is the psychology of spiteful people?
It was greatest among people high in psychopathy, who are particularly callous, unsympathetic, and unemotional. “Some people call it 'meanness,'” Marcus said. Rounding out the “dark triad” of negative personality traits, spitefulness was also greater in people who scored high in narcissism and Machiavellianism.
What do you call a person who does things out of spite?
spiteful in American English
(ˈspaitfəl) adjective. full of spite or malice; showing spite; malicious; malevolent; venomous. a spiteful child. SYNONYMS vengeful, mean, cruel, rancorous.
What is the root cause of spite?
The key for the evolution of spite is that an organism might be able to sacrifice some of its own fitness in order to gain a relative advantage over others. In other words, spite involves a trade-off: lower your own fitness, but lower the fitness of everyone else more.”
What is an example of petty behavior?
Someone bumps into you by accident, and instead of accepting the apology you blow up and start a scene. That's petty. The person that takes a waitress pen because it's nice. That's petty.