Top 20 Best Revenge Breakup Songs

What’s the best way to handle a breakup? If you’re Adele, it’s heading straight to the studio to write about it! Imagine being the person who allegedly said her life would be “boring and lonely, and rubbish” and that she was “weak” if she walked away from the relationship. Now, imagine hearing “Rolling in the Deep” for the first time and practically feeling the singer flipping you off. The song topped charts worldwide, going platinum countless times and scoring numerous accolades and a Guinness World Record for “Biggest-selling digital track in a calendar year in the US.” Moral of the story: if you’re gonna break up with Adele, you may not want to be a jerk about it!

Houston’s volatile relationship with singer Bobby Brown is no secret, so it’s hard not to imagine she’s singing this song about him. However, Houston never confirmed that, leaving the idea as pure speculation. Still, the song’s powerful lyrics about finding the strength to leave a cheating partner and feeling better off for it will strike a chord with anyone who’s been there. Plus, with its upbeat R&B-meets-soul rhythm, it lets you dance away much of the bad feelings toward your unfaithful ex. Even if cheating wasn’t part of your story, the song’s message is clear: walking away from a bad relationship is always the right move.

Although this song was supposedly inspired by Gaga’s ex-fiancé, Taylor Kinney, the singer insists it’s not a diss track. She explained the lyrics reflect a feeling that she believes everyone has experienced at some point and that she’d never use her music to spread hate, especially about someone she cares for. So why are we talking about it? Well, Gaga’s right about one thing—how often have you looked back on what felt like true love, only to realize it was just a “perfect illusion?” She may not have intended it as a revenge song, but belting it out at full volume sure feels cathartic!

According to CeeLo Green, this song isn’t just about romantic rejection but also his frustration with the music business. After struggling for years to break through as a solo artist, his label still wasn’t giving him a shot. Channeling that anger into a fictional breakup story—complete with the song’s original expletive title—gave him some much-needed release. Co-writer Bruno Mars added, “CeeLo is one of those artists who says whatever he wants.” The beauty of this track is that it’s a fun, upbeat way to vent about life’s lows. Perhaps you wouldn’t sing this to anyone's face, but there’s no harm in belting it out in private and pretending they’re there in front of you.

This might be one of the happiest and most uplifting breakup songs ever. It almost reminds us of that scene in “500 Days of Summer,” but instead of celebrating new love, the singer is thrilled to close this chapter of his life. It’s just about one of the most optimistic takes on breakups you’ll ever hear, and Bublé’s joy is infectious. The video features Jaime Pressly and was shot in the same location as “Desperate Housewives’” Wisteria Lane. It shows Bublé happily walking away from his cheating girlfriend while she watches other women take notice of him. Sometimes, when a relationship goes up in flames, there’s no better choice than walking away.

Rihanna wastes no time calling out this unfaithful former beau in one of the song's opening lyrics. She frames the relationship like a theatrical performance where the ex hit all the right marks but has been sneaking around behind the scenes. We love how RiRi takes control of the narrative, shining the spotlight of shame directly on the wrongdoer. She may not have written the song, but she sings every lyric with such fervor we know we’d never want to get on her bad side. While she may have been singing about a fictional relationship at the time, it hits that much harder now, given what she’s faced in her own relationships.

If there’s one thing we know about Beyoncé, it is that she knows how to take life’s lemons and turn them into lemonade. In this song, with lyrics written by Ne-Yo, she reminds us that no man should ever think he can replace her number one: herself. It’s all about knowing your self-worth and never settling for less. Bey knows she’s a catch and demands to be treated like the Queen she is. We feel that. No wonder the song dominated charts worldwide, even hitting number one on several US charts. If you’ve been through a breakup, the lyrics will hit hard—you might have even sung “to the left, to the left” at them until they, well, left.

If “Drivers License” captures the sadness after a breakup, “Good 4 U” is the fiery anger that comes right before you’re fully ready to move on. Rumor has it these tracks were inspired by the Olivia Rodrigo-Joshua Bassett-Sabrina Carpenter love triangle, though Rodrigo hasn’t exactly named names. “Good 4 U” is a sassy breakup anthem, using cheeky lyrics to wish an ex well—while secretly hoping they feel the sting. Rodrigo said she didn’t want her entire album to be sad but wasn’t ready to sing about happy romances either. We’re all here for that “put your ex on blast” phase—it’s all just part of the healing!

We definitely don’t condone property damage as a breakup response, but we totally get the urge. Maybe just imagine busting their windows or keying their car instead—or a safer bet is to just crank up these songs and sing along as loud as you can. While Underwood didn’t have a specific muse for this track, she said she knew the sting of being cheated on but was more of a “let it go, move on” type. Still, this banger perfectly captures the rage of being betrayed, yet it has a freeing quality, especially as it builds to that powerful chorus. It scooped up numerous awards, including two Grammys, and went seven times Platinum in the US.

Imagine being in a relationship that’s turned sour, but you still have to work together. That’s exactly what happened with Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. Buckingham channeled his breakup feelings and long-held grievances into a song, and guess who was expected to sing some of those lyrics? Unsurprisingly, Nicks wasn’t thrilled with some of the content and asked Buckingham to take it out—without success. Even though she understood this was his way of venting his rage, it didn’t make performing the song any easier. Is there anything more savage than making your ex sing a song about how angry they’ve made you to countless audiences? We think not.

In 2022, Shakira and her husband, Gerard Piqué, announced their separation, allegedly due to the soccer player’s infidelity. Shakira channeled her emotions into music and released this scathing breakup song with plenty of potshots at her ex and his new girlfriend. As well as hinting that his new beau is a significant downgrade, she also references her former mother-in-law, the relentless media, and blames Piqué for her recent tax evasion scandal. It’s the perfect balance between diss track and empowerment anthem and broke YouTube records for Latin music, with more than 63 million views in just 24 hours. Shakira comes for her ex, and she comes for him hard. It’s savage, and we’re here for it.

Does anyone else feel the rage bubbling inside them when this song begins? We’ve been Kelly Clarkson stans since “American Idol,” but we adored her even more when she released this relatable thrashy banger about what happens when a good relationship turns bad. Hearing her sing out her anger with such vigor and watching her trash an apartment in the music video is surprisingly cathartic. On the one hand, we feel the rage; on the other hand, she’s celebrating the freedom of ending a soured relationship. This sentiment and the infectious rhythm made “Since U Been Gone” a timeless classic. It also earned her several awards, including a Grammy. Stick that in your ex’s face.

When Little Mix released this catchy post-breakup, girl power anthem, we all side-eyed One Direction’s Zayn Malik, who had recently called off his engagement to band member Perrie Edwards. The first verse, sung by Edwards, is filled with shade, like referencing the duration of the relationship and calling out how quickly the former lover moved on. The group has all but denied these speculations; Edwards even claimed that since so many breakup songs are sad, they just wanted to release something empowering. The song is a perfect reminder that life and love are filled with learning experiences, and you should always strive to live it to the fullest. Plus, did we mention it’s a tune?

Jelena famously dated on and off for much of the 2010s and could easily release a joint album of songs they allegedly wrote about each other. Among the most notable is Beiber’s “Love Yourself,” co-written by Ed Sheeran. Some fans speculated that the title was inspired by Gomez’s tattoo, which reads “Love yourself first” in Arabic. The lyrics are incredibly biting and completely slander its intended subject. Whoever he’s singing about, it’s clear that this relationship did not end amicably. Still, the narrator wants that person to know that although they acknowledge the tumultuous relationship, they’re already over it. In 2019, Gomez seemingly responded, declaring she needed to “Lose You To Love Me.”

Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears were the IT couple of the late 90s and early 00s pop music scene. They broke up in 2002, the same year Timberlake released this song about getting cheated on and wanting revenge. The singer shared that he was so mad about the alleged infidelity between Spears and choreographer Wade Robson that it took him just two hours to pen the track. There’s even a Britney look-alike in the music video as if we needed more convincing. Supposedly, Britney responded with her 2004 hit “Everytime,” which is about asking for forgiveness. However, she has since accused him of exploiting their relationship and breakup to further his career.

In 2019, Cyrus released "Slide Away," a somber reflection on her split from Liam Hemsworth. However, her 2023 jam "Flowers" put a more upbeat spin on the situation while celebrating self-love and self-care. It's also filled with easter eggs, from a possible reference to the 2018 Woolsey fire that burned down their home to shooting the music video in the house where Hemsworth allegedly cheated on her. Also, she released it on his 33rd birthday; now that's pretty savage. The song also seems to sample another iconic "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor, which shares a similar message. "Flowers" is a major earworm and so brilliant; it's essentially a masterclass in breakup songs.

Sometimes after a breakup, we have a strong desire to be petty AF. Usually, a little voice in our heads will talk us out of it, but this song proves that sometimes pettiness is the most freeing outlet. Okay, we don’t condone following Pink’s example to a tee, but you get what we mean. “So What,” co-penned by Pink, Shellback, and Max Martin, was inspired by the singer’s separation from former ex Carey Hart. He even stars in the music video since they were already back together by the time of its release. Still, it’s a cheeky, irreverent number about proving that you don’t need that person to live your best life.

Since its release in the mid-90s, fans have speculated who this song might be about. Names like Ryan Reynolds, Matt LeBlanc, Leslie Howe, and Mike Peluso have all been thrown into the mix. However, “Full House” actor Dave Coulier thinks “You Oughta Know” that it might be about him since she released it not long after they broke up. He doesn’t seem to know for sure, but he’s revealed that he can hear aspects of their relationship reflected in the song’s lyrics. Meanwhile, Morisette has no plans to spill the beans on the track’s intended subject. Still, this is a great song to listen to when you’re particularly enraged and need to let it all out.

TSwift is no stranger to heartbreak. She famously channels her emotions into music, giving us a plethora of relatable heartache songs. From the peppy “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” the edgier “I Knew You Were Trouble,” to the rockier “Would've, Could've, Should've,” and countless others, there are too many unforgettable options to choose just one. Some of her tracks are more subtle and cryptic, like “All Too Well,” while others are self-explanatory, like “Dear John.” You can find a TayTay song for every emotion you’ve ever felt while going through or healing from a breakup. Incidentally, it’s rumored that she may be the subject of John Mayer’s “Paper Doll” and the Jonas Brothers’ “Paranoid.”

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Triggered (freestyle)” (2019), Jhené Aiko
Apparently, Even Big Sean, Who the Song Is Partially Inspired by Was Shocked by How Much Anger Was Poured into It

“Hit 'Em up Style (Oops!)” (2001), Blu Cantrell
Well… That’s One Way to Deal with a Cheating Ex!

“Strong Enough” (1999), Cher
We Love a Post-breakup Empowerment Banger!

“F*ck It (I Don't Want You Back)” (2003), Eamon
No, Please, Eamon, Don’t Beat About the Bush (Also, Who Remembers Frankee’s Comeback? Oof!)

“Call Me When You’re Sober” (2006), Evanescence
Does Anyone Do Melancholic Breakup Revenge Songs Quite Like Evanescence?

Which of Simon’s exes are so vain they probably think this song is about them? Could it have been Mick Jagger? Perhaps James Taylor? Or maybe it was David Cassidy or David Bowie? For decades, she’s been teasing us with little hints here and there, but she’s still not ready to spill the tea entirely. However, she has revealed that the second verse is about Warren Beatty and jokingly added that he thinks the entire song is about him. Mystery man (or men) aside, this is arguably Simon’s most synonymous track and a total earworm. Plus, who doesn’t love a song telling some arrogant ex that he’s not all that and needs to get over himself?

Which song makes you feel “Happier Than Ever” after a bad breakup? Let us know in the comments!