resentment

noun

re·​sent·​ment ri-ˈzent-mənt 

: a feeling of indignant displeasure or persistent ill will at something regarded as a wrong, insult, or injury

Synonyms

• down [chiefly British]
• grievance
• grudge
• score

Choose the Right Synonym for resentment

offense, resentment, umbrage, pique, dudgeon, huff mean an emotional response to or an emotional state resulting from a slight or indignity.

offense implies hurt displeasure.

takes deep offense at racial slurs

resentment suggests lasting indignation or ill will.

harbored a lifelong resentment of his brother

umbrage may suggest hurt pride, resentment, or suspicion of another's motives.

took umbrage at the offer of advice

pique applies to a transient feeling of wounded vanity.

in a pique I foolishly declined the invitation

dudgeon suggests an angry fit of indignation.

stormed out of the meeting in high dudgeon

huff implies a peevish short-lived spell of anger usually at a petty cause.

in a huff he slammed the door

Examples of resentment in a Sentence

She bore bitter feelings of resentment toward her ex-husband.

He's filled with resentment at his boss.

He expressed his resentment of the new policies.

Recent Examples on the Web

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

The left-populist meta-narrative that would address those resentments hasn’t quite caught on. —Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 1 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

The loss of the pensions, at a time when Boeing was doing well financially, sparked deep resentment that continues to this day. —Chris Isidore, CNN, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1619, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

resentment

noun

re·​sent·​ment ri-ˈzent-mənt 

: a feeling of angry displeasure at something regarded as a wrong, insult, or injury