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

Collins also enters the general election campaign with a ground-game network that was the envy of his GOP rivals. — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 20 July 2026

Hebrew has been contemplated with some envy by campaigners in other societies. — Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 July 2026

Verb

The leverage is real, and Turkey has cultivated a direct line to Washington that most European capitals would envy. — Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Sharp, sleek, shoulder-grazing-length—what's not to envy about this edgy cut by stylist Chris Jones? — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 10 June 2026

Phrases Containing envy

• green with envy