be vindictive that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be vindictive that" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It seems to be an incomplete thought and lacks proper context for usage. Example: "I don't want you to be vindictive that he won the award instead of you."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

And there is no burden of proof: if a person complains just to be vindictive, that will be recorded as a complaint.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

'That would be vindictive,' Kevin Maxwell told The Observer.

The Guardian - Business

If they see their parents undermining each other, arguing and being vindictive, then that's the foundation on which they will build their own relationships.

The Guardian

"I know there are prison libraries but all libraries are facing cuts … Education is a really important part of rehabilitation in my view, and [not allowing it] seems to me to be vindictive". Crook said this morning that she was "very pleased" to see the amount of support her piece had generated.

The Guardian - Books

He lost his re-election bid to sunny Ronald Reagan, who promised "morning in America" and left an indelible lesson for candidates of both parties: that voters can be vindictive toward anyone who dares criticize the country and, implicitly, the people.

The New York Times

That's because I am not trying to be vindictive, ma'am.

HuffPost

She said: "Why be vindictive?

The New York Times

Justice should never be vindictive.

The Guardian

Let's not be vindictive".

The New York Times

At times he could also be vindictive.

The Guardian

Ms. Leid seems impervious to the unpleasant things said about her, that she is vindictive, for instance, and that her participation in the shake-up is revenge against Ms. Van Isler for not hiring her as program director last year.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "be vindictive that". It is grammatically awkward. Rephrase to clearly express the reason for the vindictive behavior, such as "be resentful because" or "act vindictively because".

Common error

Don't assume that "be vindictive that" correctly introduces a causal clause. Instead, use conjunctions like "because", "since", or "as" to clearly link the vindictive behavior to its cause.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be vindictive that" attempts to express a state of being motivated by vindictiveness, but its grammatical structure is flawed. It lacks a clear connection between the state and the reason for it. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is not correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be vindictive that" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase lacks a clear connection between the state of being vindictive and the reason behind it. Instead, use alternative phrases such as "be resentful because" or "act vindictively because" to express the intended meaning more effectively. These alternatives clearly link the action or feeling to its cause, ensuring better communication and grammatical correctness. This conclusion is based on both the analysis of example sentences and Ludwig AI's assessment of the phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be resentful because

Shifts focus to the feeling of resentment that motivates vindictive behavior.

act vindictively because

Focuses on the action and the reason behind it, emphasizing causation.

seek revenge due to

Highlights the act of seeking revenge as a result of a particular situation.

show vindictiveness because

Highlights the display of vindictive behavior due to a specific cause.

be spiteful since

Uses "spiteful" as a synonym and indicates a temporal relationship.

demonstrate vengefulness as

Replaces "vindictive" with "vengeful", focusing on retribution and the context triggering it.

retaliate because

Focuses on the act of retaliation as a response to something.

hold a grudge and

Emphasizes the holding of resentment that leads to vindictive actions.

exact retribution as

Emphasizes the demanding of retribution in a specific situation.

avenge oneself considering

Highlights the act of avenging oneself in light of certain circumstances.

FAQs

How can I express acting vindictively due to a reason?

Instead of "be vindictive that", use phrases like "be resentful because" or "act vindictively because" to clearly connect the action with its cause.

Is "be vindictive that" grammatically correct?

No, "be vindictive that" is not considered grammatically correct. It's better to use a construction that clearly links the vindictive behavior to its cause with conjunctions like "because", as in "be vindictive because..."

What are some alternatives to "be vindictive that"?

Alternatives include "show vindictiveness because", "demonstrate vengefulness as", or "seek revenge due to". These provide clearer and more grammatically sound ways to express the intended meaning.

What is wrong with the construction "be vindictive that"?

The construction "be vindictive that" is awkward because it doesn't clearly establish the causal relationship. It's more effective to use phrases that explicitly connect the vindictive behavior with its cause using conjunctions like "because", "since", or "as".