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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of envy
Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
The famed youth system, once a source of envy for others in the Ferguson years, entered a low period in the 2010s.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
His fitness level is envied among his teammates.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for envy
Noun
Takaichi’s approval ratings are strikingly high, ranging from more than 50% to over 80% for people in their 20s in some polls, levels unseen in years and the envy of recent prime ministers.
—Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
The famed youth system, once a source of envy for others in the Ferguson years, entered a low period in the 2010s.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
DiCaprio, now 51, has built a career many of his peers would envy.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 4 Dec. 2025
His fitness level is envied among his teammates.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for envy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for envy
Noun
-
The scene is idyllic, but the characters are suffering—from jealousy and longing and an overall failure to communicate.—
Stephanie Bai,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Now, the swans have to deal with hunters and von Rothbart’s jealousy.—
David Lyman,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Journalists aren’t forced to play antagonists in a room already primed to resent them.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Some of the petition’s signatories were Democratic voters, but its loudest advocates were conservative businesspeople who resented the lockdown, and a campaign against the recall, led by the strategist Juan Rodriguez, painted the effort as a bad-faith Republican power grab.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Your hatred of our governor has blinded your ability to be balanced, fair or accurate.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Feb. 2026
-
There’s no hatred, no resentment, no real rivalry to speak of, beyond the unquenchable fire that drives every great athlete.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Still, over time, even harmlessly annoying behaviors can breed resentment in a friendship.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Even if the Pirates relent, McCutchen’s resentment might linger.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Envy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/envy. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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