envy 1 of 2

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

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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

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Examples 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 envy
Noun
Feelings of envy or competition may also surface, as well as issues around spending habits and shared assets. Valerie Mesa, Peoplemag, 20 Sep. 2024 Free up wall space and become the envy of your neighbors (some who may be afraid to even open their garage doors) with this handy hanging storage rack that frees your floor and walls from clutter. Christina Shepherd McGuire, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Oct. 2024
Verb
Embarking on a luxurious retirement—international travel, a new home here or there—was its own status symbol, something to be envied by those who couldn’t afford to maintain their lifestyles without a regular paycheck. Christina Binkley, Robb Report, 5 Oct. 2024 Photo : Barrett-Jackson via Getty Images Assembled by a team of special technicians at a dedicated facility in Tochigi, Japan, the NSX was a quality piece, establishing a benchmark for fit and finish that any stateside or European manufacturer would envy. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for envy 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for envy
Noun
  • Suspicion, dislike, jealousy, scapegoating — none of those are the transcendent facet of the human personality.
    Judy Kurtz, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Embodying Burroughs’ alter ego and cycling through Lee’s lust, jealousy, world-weariness, neediness, and bliss, Craig cracks this smitten, doomed romantic wide open.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2024
Verb
  • Though acquitted, the youth henceforth resented authority.
    Alison Osius, Outside Online, 1 Nov. 2024
  • Sam has secretly resented her father for decades because he’s been absent from her life, and those emotions come to a head when a new ghost leads her to finally have a father/daughter chat.
    Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 18 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • As an intimacy grows between Cassie and Bryan, Berryman again dances with shadows of Blanche and Stanley, but with all the hatred removed, the poisons of class and time and gender drained away.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
  • The hatred isn’t just coming from anonymous fringe posters either.
    Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • This means asking them to let go of any anger and resentment toward you, but don’t force anything.
    Hylke Faber, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
  • But both therapists agree that honest and open communication is a must for preventing misunderstandings and keeping resentment from building up.
    Jenna Ryu, SELF, 1 Nov. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Envy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/envy. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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