Synonyms of envy

envy 1 of 2

noun

ˈen-vē 

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

• jealousy
• hatred
• resentment
• covetousness
• enviousness
• invidiousness
• animosity
• enmity
• malice
• green-eyed monster
• ill will
• spitefulness
• maliciousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sympathy
• kindness
• goodwill
• benevolence

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• resent
• begrudge
• want
• desire
• covet
• crave
• wish (for)
• long (for)
• die (for)
• hunger (for)
• lust (for or after)
• itch (for)
• ache (for)
• yen (for)
• thirst (for)
• yearn (for)
• jones (for)
• salivate
• hanker (for or after)
• pant (after)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of envy

Noun

Time and again, creatively minded folks from Madison, Chicago, and beyond have felt drawn to Spring Green, helping build an arts scene that's the envy of towns 10 times its size. —Charles Usher, Midwest Living, 10 June 2026

For a decade, the EV story was about tailpipe emissions and Tesla envy. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 June 2026

Verb

But compared to their predecessors and others in the region, this new generation of Gulf leaders offers a model of modernity that is envied and increasingly emulated throughout the Arab world. —Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 15 May 2026

Tom Coyne has one of those jobs most would envy. —Lee Cowan, CBS News, 3 May 2026

Phrases Containing envy

• green with envy