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 Pritzker stopped the 1% grocery tax, but that 1% tax has been introduced in several towns in Illinois, causing resentment toward small-town governments. Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025 Their families knew one another and this was a source of casual pride among them, not of bitter jokes or distancing resentments. Hilton Als, New Yorker, 30 June 2025 There’s a lot of secrets going on, and there’s a lot of resentment, there’s a lot of trauma and there’s a lot of the past poking through the cracks. Hunter Ingram, Variety, 20 June 2025 This helps prevent confusion, resentment, or unrealistic assumptions—especially under stress. Raul Elizalde, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for resentment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for resentment
Noun
  • And that is not to say that sometimes that anger wasn’t righteous, and sometimes those grudges weren’t deserved.
    Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
  • Alongside impossibly strong grannies, Dana must also contend with a dangerous prisoner now enjoying some posthumous freedom and a gun-toting drug dynasty with one almighty grudge.
    Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 10 June 2025
Noun
  • At times, things got extra heated as emotions were heightened due to jealousy and hurt feelings.
    Joelle Goldstein, People.com, 27 June 2025
  • La Piscine’s dark summer romp through the dangers of lust, jealousy, and gluttony proves nothing is ultimately sexier than the privilege of indifference.
    Erik Morse, Vogue, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • Though Trump is backing away from Putin in public, he’s never specifically projected anger about the paused weapons for Ukraine.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 9 July 2025
  • His work showed that emotions like anger, fear, joy, and sadness appear on our faces in the same way across cultures.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • Another familiar image of American grievances, an engraving of the 1770 Boston Massacre, predates the conflict by five years.
    Karin Wulf, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 July 2025
  • In late 2010, two people complained to the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman, which handles grievances related to IFC projects, about water pollution, soil pollution and foul smells from the Santo Domingo facilities.
    Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • It's been very difficult to see just how much of this hatred has been normalized.
    Leila Fadel, NPR, 1 July 2025
  • Period drama enthusiasts will be interested to know that Wright set the movie in the late-18th century instead of the early-19th century in part because of his hatred of empire waist dresses.
    Lia Beck, EW.com, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • The chute opens, and rambunctious No. 2 bursts out with an impatient huff.
    Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The briefings were initially planned for earlier in the week but were postponed, to the frustration of the delegation.
    Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2025
  • As Flores expressed his frustration with the first-base umpire, Marlins pitcher Cade Gibson started towards Flores and started yelling at him before being pushed away by the team’s coaching staff.
    Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Claiming persecution becomes more believable when it is coupled with the righteous indignation of the wronged.
    Lubna Zeidan, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
  • Some Trump allies have expressed skepticism — and at times outright indignation — at the idea of the U.S. involved in another conflict in the Middle East, while others have offered wholehearted support.
    Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 18 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Resentment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/resentment. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

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