Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

envy

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of envy

a painful awareness of anotherʼs possessions or advantages and a desire to have them too

  • their envy of their neighborʼs fancy home threatened to wreck their friendship
Synonyms of envy

covetousness, enviousness, green-eyed monster, invidiousness, jealousy, resentment
Words Related to envy

animosity, enmity, hatred, ill will

malice, maliciousness, spitefulness
Near Antonyms of envy

benevolence, goodwill, kindness, sympathy

envy

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of envy

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 of envy

begrudge, resent
Words Related to envy

ache (for), covet, crave, desire, die (for), hanker (for or after), hunger (for), itch (for), jones (for) [slang], long (for), lust (for or after), pant (after), thirst (for), want, wish (for), yearn (for), yen (for)

salivate

Learn More about envy

  1. Dictionary: Definition of envy Spanish Central: Translation of envy Nglish: Translation of envy for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of envy for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up envy? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

nidus

a nest or breeding place

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. nebulous Lip reading, Brexit, and semantic uncertainty

  2. synergy Mueller files Cohen details.

  3. slumgullion From the broadcast of 'It Happened on Fifth Avenue'

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games