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
  • The viral clip perfectly captures the familiar, comedic drama of pet rivalry, proving once again that internet users can't get enough of the secret lives—and grudges—of our four-legged friends.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
  • Or maybe someone carried a grudge about a business deal or something completely unrelated to any of the many hats Roy wore.
    Dateline NBC, NBC news, 25 June 2025
Noun
  • But so are the jagged edges that made Girls, Dunham’s beloved 2012 HBO series, so refreshing, which include crippling jealousy, female rage, and unbridled honesty about bodily functions.
    Lindy Segal, Glamour, 7 July 2025
  • There are so many emotions here: jealousy, strong desire to succeed.
    Marta Balaga, Variety, 6 July 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
  • Music and song have changed the world in positive, enduring ways that fear, anger, and violence never have.
    Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • After their move to California, the couple began to air their grievances in interviews and documentaries.
    Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2025
  • Other factions have taken the opportunity to air their own grievances, including left-wing complaints that von der Leyen’s center-right group is too close to the far right, particularly on environmental rules.
    semafor.com, semafor.com, 10 July 2025
Noun
  • There’s a great tradition in sports of being driven by a fear, or a hatred, of that feeling.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
  • She’s been feeling so much hatred, so much anger, so much sadness, so much disappointment these last few episodes.
    Lynette Rice, Deadline, 13 July 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
  • More than six months into his presidency, Trump has shown increasing frustration with Putin as a ceasefire deal to end the conflict remains out of reach.
    Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 10 July 2025
  • North Texas’ congestion, perhaps to the frustration of many, had more or less returned to normal by 2022, according to data compiled by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 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 19 Jul. 2025.

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