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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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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 envy
Noun
The Pittsburgh Pirates have a young starting rotation that would be the envy of most Major League Baseball teams. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025 Manchester City have no such concerns, primarily because of revenues that are the envy of the Premier League. Sam Lee, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
In excess, however, envy fosters resentment, undermines collaboration and creates a divisive atmosphere where individuals work against each other rather than with one another. Sandro Da Silva, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024 But from a business perspective, Denver’s Major League Baseball franchise has something the Broncos, Nuggets and Avalanche all envy — a destination stadium with an adjoining neighborhood that acts as another money stream. Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for envy 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for envy
Noun
  • Unable to admit the depth of her jealousy (here, the narrative veers into Baby Mama territory), Lainy distances herself from Kate to indulge in her own fantasy.
    Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Feb. 2025
  • According to Newsweek, toxic sibling behavior often manifests through jealousy and competitiveness, especially when one sibling perceives the other's success as a personal slight.
    Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Leave the vining veggies like peas and beans outdoors, as well as root vegetables that can resent transplanting.
    Marianne Willburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Fury As Man Asks Wife To Help Clean, Cook For Own Surprise Party: 'Divorce' By Lydia Patrick Life & Trends Reporter 0 The internet has rallied behind a woman for defending her younger brother, after their family began resenting him for dating a wealthier woman.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • He’s been terrified, in love, hit in the head and, most often, in a state of bitter hatred.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 7 Feb. 2025
  • There was a conscious decision made not to blow up the church, because that's so symbolic of hatred, and that was a sacred building for the entire Walnut Grove community on the show and off the show.
    Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 6 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • By reading out Musk's words, the students' lawyers are attempting to show that Musk harbors a deep resentment of federal employees, especially in the Department of Education.
    Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Noah, Dan, Margot and Eliza keep secrets and nurse resentments.
    Manuel Betancourt, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near envy

Cite this Entry

“Envy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/envy. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

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