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

Mansfield might just be the envy of Tarrant County suburbs — not to mention towns in Johnson and Ellis counties, which Mansfield also straddles. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2026

There was also an actor’s envy. —Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 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

Phrases Containing envy

• green with envy