RESENTFUL Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

resentful

adjective

ri-ˈzent-fəl

Definition of resentful

as in angry

having or showing deep-seated resentment he is still resentful about being passed over for a promotion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in jealous

having or showing mean resentment of another's possessions or advantages resentful of her cousin's wealth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 resentful In Agamemnon’s memory, Clytemnestra is as soft as Helen is hard, as fawning as Helen is resentful. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 July 2026 Attempting to be all things to all people is a recipe for feeling burnt out and resentful, and your best people-pleasing efforts could surely backfire. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 July 2026 From coast to coast, the people of the United States are growing resentful of AI. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 25 June 2026 But there have been many groups in music history where the woman becomes the face of the group and the guys get resentful. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for resentful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for resentful

Adjective

But some of it is about the cultural change that people argue about, on their phones, with the other angry people that their algorithm has found for them.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Pretendian hunters tend to be painted as aggressive or angry, which ultimately serves to undermine their claims.

— Tommy Orange, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of angry

Adjective

Fonseca was out with his girlfriend, and Martinez Aranda, jealous of the relationship, confronted the victim and fatally shot him, according to the DA’s office.

— Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Aug. 2026
To celebrate their new and improved situation (and make some landlocked folks jealous), the pair recently teamed up for a hilarious joint Instagram video.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of jealous

Adjective

One big call was to yellow card Marco van Staden for cynical play on his tryline, superseding a high tackle by New Zealand captain Ardie Savea on Wiese.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026
The cynical reality is that Republicans don’t even need to turn down tech company donations to campaign on their newly pragmatic identities.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of cynical

Adjective

The phone-comedy discussion followed a scene in which Julie Kessler and Billy Epstein, the proudly embittered struggling comedians played by Klausner and Eichner, confront an up-and-coming digital creator.

— Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026
Given the fact that the match is in Canada with an embittered Sami Zayn costing his best friend the match, Zayn may see another WWE world title opportunity.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of embittered

Adjective

Thin-shelled yet not overly delicate, stuffed with amarena cherry-scented light ricotta bookended by bitter dark chocolate chips.

— The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Today’s recipe Chef David Tanis’ recipe for Persimmon and Pomegranate Salad With Bitter Lettuces has a nice combination of sweet and bitter.

— Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of bitter

Adjective

Simmering in the background is a rancorous debate on whether to restrict Chinese AI models.

— Andy Browne, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2026
His supporters rewarded him with a landslide victory, then held their tongues as the Conservative leader bowed to rancorous calls to resign amid the Partygate scandal after three years in office.

— Tristan Bove, Fortune, 23 June 2026

Definition of rancorous

Browse Nearby Words

resented

resentful

resentfully

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Resentful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/resentful. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of resentful

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

illustrious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes