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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of envy
Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025
Chip Somodevilla | Afp | Getty Images Europe’s CEOs appeared to watch on with envy as President Donald Trump overturned a slew of regulations on Monday, with a growing chorus of voices calling for similar moves on the continent.
—Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 22 Jan. 2025
Rachel Handler, Vulture, 23 Jan. 2025
The one thing the insomniac does not envy is the unconscious dead.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for envy
Noun
Stargate, the enormous A.I. infrastructure project that has investors agog and is fast becoming the envy of the tech world.
—Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025
Chip Somodevilla | Afp | Getty Images Europe’s CEOs appeared to watch on with envy as President Donald Trump overturned a slew of regulations on Monday, with a growing chorus of voices calling for similar moves on the continent.
—Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
Jesse Eisenberg — who wrote, directed, and stars opposite Culkin — is the ostensible protagonist David, Benji’s uptight, socially awkward cousin who envies and pities him in equal measure, but A Real Pain is Culkin’s showcase.
—Rachel Handler, Vulture, 23 Jan. 2025
The one thing the insomniac does not envy is the unconscious dead.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for envy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for envy
Noun
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Many teens struggle to recognize these unhealthy dynamics, especially because pop culture often portrays jealousy as a sign of love.—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN,
8 Mar. 2025
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Over time, this mindset can create a self-fulfilling prophecy, as excessive jealousy and controlling behavior may push a partner away, reinforcing the very fears that triggered it.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Here is a filmmaker who, these days, resents his own audience.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
17 Mar. 2025
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This is very impressive and certainly something a large bank would resent.—
Charles Wayn,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Even if those two men didn’t make it out of Europe alive, the unspeakable acts carried out in the name of Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich would still live on in infamy, reminding humanity what blind hatred and xenophobia could lead to if a society wasn’t careful.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
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Venerable baby boomer Kevin Bacon plays the titular bounty hunter Hub Halloran, a proud Georgia man with little tolerance for tomfoolery and a hatred of the Red Sox.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA TODAY,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Doesn’t that seem like an obvious way to breed resentment and, ahem, rebellion?—
Eliana Dockterman,
TIME,
21 Mar. 2025
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One child may excel in sports or academics while another struggles, leading to feelings of resentment.—
Friends of Karen,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
Articles Related to envy
Cite this Entry
“Envy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/envy. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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