envy

/ˈɛnvi/

[noun] [verb]

Envy

[NOUN]

a feeling of discontent or spite that one might have as a result of wanting what others have

synonyms : invidia

a feeling of grudging admiration and desire to have something that is possessed by another

synonyms : enviousness

to envy

[VERB]

MAIN VERB

to feel unhappy or resentful because someone else has something that one desires

be envious of; set one's heart on

synonyms : begrudge

Examples

1. The envious politician attacked his opponent with baseless accusations, not realizing that envy shoots at others and wounds itself, as his own reputation was tarnished in the process.

2. The athlete learned that envy never enriched any man, so he focused on his own training and improvement instead of being jealous of his competitors.

3. I used to envy my friend's perfect relationship with her husband, but then I found out that they were both cheating on each other.

4. The successful entrepreneur understood that some people might resent his wealth and status, but he believed that it was better to be envied than pitied for his achievements.

Nearby words

envisage

environmentalist

environmental science