corrosive-envy
/kəˈrəʊ.sɪv ˈen.vi/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A strong feeling of envy that slowly harms your thoughts, mood, or relationships. It is not just wanting what someone has; it keeps hurting you over time.
- Her success stirred up corrosive envy in the team.
- Corrosive envy can damage friendships.
- He smiled, but corrosive envy was underneath.
Adinary Nuance
Corrosive envy is stronger and more damaging than simple envy. It suggests a feeling that keeps eating away at a person over time. It is also more negative and serious than jealousy, which often includes fear of losing something you already have.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- sự đố kỵ
- Spanish
- envidia corrosiva
- Chinese
- 有害的嫉妒
- Japanese
- 有害な嫉妬
- Korean
- 해로운 질투
Etymology
This is a modern compound phrase built from 'corrosive' and 'envy'. 'Corrosive' comes from Latin through Old French and has long meant something that eats away or damages.
Common phrases
corrosive envy of successfuel corrosive envya feeling of corrosive envy
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is corrosive envy the same as jealousy?
- Not exactly. Corrosive envy is more about wanting what another person has, and it harms you over time.
- Is corrosive envy a formal phrase?
- Yes. It sounds more formal and literary than everyday words like envy or jealousy.
- Can I use corrosive envy in IELTS writing?
- Yes. It works well in essays about competition, social media, or harmful emotions.