envy 1 of 2

as in jealousy
a painful awareness of another's possessions or advantages and a desire to have them too their envy of their neighbor's fancy home threatened to wreck their friendship

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

envy

2 of 2

verb

as in to resent
to have a resentful awareness of and desire for (another's possessions or advantages) or to feel resentment toward (someone) over possessions or advantages her coworkers envied her chummy relationship with the senior vice president they envied him because he didn't have to work for a living

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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 envy
Noun
The Novice somehow manages to capture the obsessiveness of athletic competition, friendship envy, and lesbianism all in one movie — a perfect trifecta. Ana Osorno, Them., 26 Aug. 2025 Here are the best foundation plants to consider to make your home's exterior the envy of the neighborhood. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
Online, fans who missed the Cowboy Carter performance expressed everything from excitement to envy. Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 28 July 2025 Prolific writers are simultaneously envied and dismissed, admired and snarked about. Ed Simon july 21, Literary Hub, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for envy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for envy
Noun
  • However, psychotherapist Stephanie Sarkis warns these plot lines normalize secrecy, jealousy and betrayal.
    Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
  • But—of course—jealousy and chaos ensue.
    Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • In the meantime, though, a new character is introduced, a rough-looking butcher with a motorbike and sidecar whose presence Andor’s mother seems to resent and accept in bafflingly equal measures.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Rather than resent Sharapova’s competition, Williams grew to embrace it.
    Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Rivalries that are long in tenure and thick with hatred define college sports in the Deep South, where football is second only to faith in some places.
    Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Examples abound of men with histories of misogyny – often expressed online – who go on to commit violent crimes in the name of their hatred.
    Will Carless, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Failure to do so may cause resentment, misunderstandings, and passive aggressively loud blender usage.
    Sarah Schmelling, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
  • But old resentments surface before long, escalating into a fist fight.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Envy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/envy. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

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