resentment

1
2
as in jealousy
a painful awareness of another's possessions or advantages and a desire to have them too I don't have any resentment over my friend's luxurious house

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3

Synonym Chooser

How is the word resentment distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of resentment are dudgeon, huff, offense, pique, and umbrage. While all these words mean "an emotional response to or an emotional state resulting from a slight or indignity," resentment suggests lasting indignation or ill will.

harbored a lifelong resentment of his brother

When could dudgeon be used to replace resentment?

While the synonyms dudgeon and resentment are close in meaning, dudgeon suggests an angry fit of indignation.

stormed out of the meeting in high dudgeon

When can huff be used instead of resentment?

While in some cases nearly identical to resentment, huff implies a peevish short-lived spell of anger usually at a petty cause.

in a huff he slammed the door

When might offense be a better fit than resentment?

Although the words offense and resentment have much in common, offense implies hurt displeasure.

takes deep offense at racial slurs

When is pique a more appropriate choice than resentment?

The words pique and resentment are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pique applies to a transient feeling of wounded vanity.

in a pique I foolishly declined the invitation

When is it sensible to use umbrage instead of resentment?

The meanings of umbrage and resentment largely overlap; however, umbrage may suggest hurt pride, resentment, or suspicion of another's motives.

took umbrage at the offer of advice

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of resentment That, not surprisingly, triggered a lot of resentment among her peers, none more so than her evening news co-anchor Harry Reasoner. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 10 June 2025 This case isn’t grounded in facts or law; it’s fueled by resentment. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 10 June 2025 No one wants to carry bad vibes and resentment around anymore, so the energy will be pleasant and fortuitous. Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 10 June 2025 The words—said with no resentment, only curiosity—brought Emily to an abrupt halt. Literary Hub, 9 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for resentment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for resentment
Noun
  • Author James Frey still has a grudge against Oprah Winfrey, nearly 15 years after the host confronted him for lying in his memoir on national TV.
    Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 11 June 2025
  • Yet the company rolled him straight from the WrestleMania stage into Backlash and a main-event grudge with 45-year-old Randy Orton, the only rival old enough to remember chain-wrestling him in the Ohio Valley.
    Oliver Bateman, The Washington Examiner, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • Someone once told me that jealousy is fine, and envy is bad.
    Andrew Goldman, Vulture, 16 June 2025
  • Turn your jealousy into admiration and use it to fuel your ambition in a positive way.
    Mekishana Pierre Published, EW.com, 16 June 2025
Noun
  • The anger of voters is strikingly clear, though, especially for ones who have for so long been loyal to Democrats.
    Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
  • Unsurprisingly, in 2019, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Measure W was causing dread and anger among property owners.
    U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Trump also seemed to put a greater priority on addressing his grievances with other nations’ trade policies.
    Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025
  • After their move to California, the couple began to air their grievances in interviews and documentaries.
    Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2025
Noun
  • There is a strong sense of hatred toward Netanyahu, whose calls for the Iranian public to take this opportunity to rise up and overthrow their leaders are seemingly falling flat.
    NBC News, NBC news, 19 June 2025
  • Miller is a man who is richly endowed with the capacity for hatred.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 16 June 2025
Noun
  • Getty Images To date, the post has amassed more than 900 comments from TikTok viewers, many of them poking fun at the golden retriever mother's annoyed expression and shallow huffs.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
  • The chute opens, and rambunctious No. 2 bursts out with an impatient huff.
    Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The briefings were initially planned for earlier in the week but were postponed, to the frustration of the delegation.
    Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2025
  • And after Thursday's loss to the Astros, Kepler vented some frustrations about that managerial decision.
    Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Daley huffed and puffed with red-faced indignation, even threatening a lawsuit over the intent of an NFL team to whisk Chicago’s proud name off to the northwest suburbs and stomp into suburban soil.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
  • The Austrian government responded with indignation, claiming that the Americans had given them no notice.
    Henry Leutwyler Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 20 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Resentment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/resentment. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

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