Payback vs. Revenge — What's the Difference?

The return on an investment.

Revenge is defined as the act of committing a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. Francis Bacon described revenge as a kind of "wild justice" that "does...

Retribution or revenge.

To inflict punishment in return for (injury or insult).

(uncountable) An act of revenge.

(Archaic) To seek or take vengeance for (oneself or another person); avenge.

(countable) A benefit, reward, a form of recompense.

The act of taking vengeance for injuries or wrongs; retaliation

A return on investment.

A desire for revenge; spite or vindictiveness

(rare) A refund; reimbursement.

An opportunity to retaliate, as by a return sports match after a defeat

Misspelling of pay back

Something done in retaliation, especially a defeat of a rival who has been victorious.

Same as retribution.

Any form of personal, retaliatory action against an individual, institution, or group for some alleged or perceived harm or injustice.

Same as requital.

A win by a previous loser.

Financial return or reward (especially returns equal to the initial investment)

(transitive) To take revenge for (a particular harmful action) or on behalf of (its victim); to avenge.

The act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done) especially in the next life;

To take one's revenge (on or upon someone).

To take vengeance; to revenge itself.

To inflict harm in return for, as an injury, insult, etc.; to exact satisfaction for, under a sense of injury; to avenge; - followed either by the wrong received, or by the person or thing wronged, as the object, or by the reciprocal pronoun as direct object, and a preposition before the wrong done or the wrongdoer.

To inflict injury for, in a spiteful, wrong, or malignant spirit; to wreak vengeance for maliciously.

To take vengeance; - with

The act of revenging; vengeance; retaliation; a returning of evil for evil.

The disposition to revenge; a malignant wishing of evil to one who has done us an injury.

Action taken in return for an injury or offense

Take revenge for a perceived wrong;