Meaning & use
resentment
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Meaning
noununcountable
A lasting feeling of bitterness toward someone or something because you think you were treated unfairly.
Grammar: Usually uncountable; followed by toward, against or at: resentment toward a boss.
Patterns
- resentment toward someone
- resentment at something
- resentment of something
She felt deep resentment toward her sister for getting all the credit.
Years of low pay built up resentment among the staff.
He could not hide his resentment at being left out.
Common combinations
- feel resentment
- He felt resentment when he was passed over.
- harbor resentment
- She harbored resentment for years.
- deep resentment
- There was deep resentment in the town.
- build up resentment
- Unfair rules build up resentment.
- bitter resentment
- Bitter resentment poisoned the friendship.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bitterness
- Bitterness focuses on lasting sourness of feeling.
- grudge
- A grudge is a specific ill feeling you hold against someone, often a countable noun.
- indignation
- Indignation is anger at something unjust, usually brief and open.
- anger
- Anger is more general and can be a quick reaction.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: resentment or repentance?
resentment vs repentance
Repentance is sorrow for your own wrongdoing; resentment is bitterness about how others treated you.
Practice
Her ____ toward her colleague grew when he took credit for her work.
Choose one answer.
Resentment is bitter feeling about unfair treatment. Resilience is toughness, reluctance is unwillingness, and reverence is deep respect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “resentment”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.