envy 1 of 2

Definition of envynext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
This future state park will grant generations of Texans with a deeper understanding of the land that helps make our state the natural envy of the world. Doug Myers, CBS News, 28 May 2026 Her siblings swelled with pride, and perhaps a dash of envy. Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Verb
Tom Coyne has one of those jobs most would envy. Lee Cowan, CBS News, 3 May 2026 That’s a schedule most touring musicians would envy — and Pearl’s the one playing the keyboard. Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for envy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for envy
Noun
  • Ultimately, jealousy turned into power.
    Jared Weiss, New York Times, 31 May 2026
  • What tends to damage relationships is not jealousy itself, but the inability to acknowledge it honestly.
    Meehika Barua, Time, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • Dern replaced Carter as some sort of actress perhaps resenting her elder-stateswoman status.
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 27 May 2026
  • Indigenous people who were not enslaved resented being treated like slaves (colonists felt the same).
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 May 2026
Noun
  • Monday showed why the Middle East’s generational hatreds are so often treacherous for American presidents.
    Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 2 June 2026
  • More deeply, San Diego’s Muslims have been puzzling over the roots of the hatred that sent two young men into a holy place with the intent to commit mass murder.
    Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
Noun
  • Maxim voiced frustration that repairs weren’t happening quickly enough and resentment at the intrusion on his privacy as workers came in and out.
    Zahra Ullah, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
  • Too few advocates Former teammates, including star cornerback Richard Sherman, thought Seahawks coach Pete Carroll coddled Wilson early in the quarterback's career, leading to resentment from members of a defense that led the league in points allowed across an NFL-record four consecutive seasons.
    Mike Sando, New York Times, 5 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Envy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/envy. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.

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