resentment

1
2
as in jealousy
a painful awareness of another's possessions or advantages and a desire to have them too I don't have any resentment over my friend's luxurious house

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3

Synonym Chooser

How is the word resentment distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of resentment are dudgeon, huff, offense, pique, and umbrage. While all these words mean "an emotional response to or an emotional state resulting from a slight or indignity," resentment suggests lasting indignation or ill will.

harbored a lifelong resentment of his brother

When could dudgeon be used to replace resentment?

While the synonyms dudgeon and resentment are close in meaning, dudgeon suggests an angry fit of indignation.

stormed out of the meeting in high dudgeon

When can huff be used instead of resentment?

While in some cases nearly identical to resentment, huff implies a peevish short-lived spell of anger usually at a petty cause.

in a huff he slammed the door

When might offense be a better fit than resentment?

Although the words offense and resentment have much in common, offense implies hurt displeasure.

takes deep offense at racial slurs

When is pique a more appropriate choice than resentment?

The words pique and resentment are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pique applies to a transient feeling of wounded vanity.

in a pique I foolishly declined the invitation

When is it sensible to use umbrage instead of resentment?

The meanings of umbrage and resentment largely overlap; however, umbrage may suggest hurt pride, resentment, or suspicion of another's motives.

took umbrage at the offer of advice

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Recent Examples of resentment The Full Moon in Aries will highlight home and family dynamics, and urges you to release outdated patterns of control or resentment that might be keeping you from feeling fully happy. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025 Passive-aggressive communication or lingering resentments won’t fly anymore — this is the month to speak truth with love. Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 30 Sep. 2025 The shortstop prides himself on his availability, but no, there was no resentment over Devers’ own accomplishment. Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025 The young woman insists her concern comes from a place of love, not resentment. Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for resentment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for resentment
Noun
  • That’s a long grudge that Ben holds.
    Demetrius Patterson, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
  • There’s the Herschel Walker trade, the Charles Haley trade, and the long grudge between Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson.
    Jon Machota, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The novel intertwines present-day events with painful memories of the lives of her parents, who tried to protect their love from war, jealousy, and the cruelty of the merciless Soviet government.
    Nelly Klos September 29, Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Things change, and antagonisms and jealousies and resentments that weren’t there before emerge.
    Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Verbatim Reginald Dwayne Betts A 2012 essay from the American Poetry Review on poetry and the architecture of anger.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Morocco Anti-government protests fueled by anger over Morocco pouring money into preparations for the 2030 World Cup instead of public services have raged in the country for nearly a week.
    Connor Greene, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Athletic reported in July that Koras was mentioned in a grievance involving Philadelphia Phillies player Johan Rojas, who accused his former agent, Yasser Mendez, of financial misconduct related to investments Mendez solicited for a baseball academy.
    Brittany Ghiroli, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Patella hasn’t been able to scheme Brown open in any of their games this season, and all signs pointed to Brown airing his grievances on social media.
    Hunter Simpson, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Raised under Augusta’s religious terror and hatred for women, Ed tries to hide his penchant for ladies’ underwear and masturbation to no avail.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Not as a land of fear, not as a divisiveness, not of government censorship, not of hatred.
    Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Kemp looked at the ceiling and blew a huff of air when Schwartz announced the sentence.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2025
  • Getty Images To date, the post has amassed more than 900 comments from TikTok viewers, many of them poking fun at the golden retriever mother's annoyed expression and shallow huffs.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025
Noun
  • Despite the growing frustration surrounding the play, Payton remains steadfast in his belief that the play should not be outlawed.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • New York — An explosion at a New York City apartment building blew off a floor-to-roof chunk of the high-rise – terrifying residents in the Bronx and fueling frustration and outrage as to how this could have happened.
    Holly Yan, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • McBride sets the political context for Swift’s savage indignation by noting that 1727–1729 saw three successive harvest failures in Ireland.
    Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Passions run as high as style, and candor and fervor blend with humor, to endow anecdotes and reflections with pride and purpose along with mourning and indignation.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Resentment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/resentment. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on resentment

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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