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Jealousy vs. Envy
Depending on who you ask, jealousy and envy are either exact synonyms, totally different words, or near-synonyms with some degree of semantic overlap and some differences. It is difficult to make the case, based on the evidence of usage that we have, for either of the first two possibilities. Both jealousy and envy are often used to indicate that a person is covetous of something that someone else has, but jealousy carries the particular sense of “zealous vigilance” and tends to be applied more exclusively to feelings of protectiveness regarding one’s own advantages or attachments. In the domain of romance, it is more commonly found than envy. If you were to say “your salt-shaker collection fills me with jealousy,” most people would take it to mean much the same thing as “your salt-shaker collection fills me with envy.” But if someone made a flirtatious comment to your partner, you would likely say that it caused you jealousy, not envy.
Examples of jealousy in a Sentence
Jared Weiss, New York Times, 31 May 2026
In an era shaped by social media, widening inequality, and constant exposure to other people’s relationships, wealth, and success, jealousy has become one of the defining but least honestly discussed emotions of adulthood.
—Meehika Barua, Time, 29 May 2026
Friendship dynamics, social circles and long-term plans could be complicated right now, especially if someone’s behavior suddenly exposes underlying jealousy or priorities that don’t align.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
And how, even on a personal level, people allow betrayal and jealousy and envy to whip them up to a level of violence and depravity.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for jealousy
Cite this Entry
“Jealousy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jealousy. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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jealousy
noun
