resentment
/rɪˈzent.mənt/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Resentment is a feeling of anger or unhappiness because you think someone was unfair, rude, or hurtful to you. It can stay in your mind for a long time.
- She felt resentment after the unfair decision.
- There was deep resentment between the two teams.
- He could not hide his resentment.
Adinary Nuance
Resentment is stronger and longer-lasting than annoyance or irritation. It is often mixed with hurt, especially when you feel treated unfairly. Use it when the feeling keeps coming back, not for a small, passing complaint.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- sự oán giận
- Spanish
- resentimiento
- Chinese
- 怨恨
- Japanese
- 憤り
- Korean
- 원망
Etymology
Resentment came into English in the 1600s from French ressentiment, based on ressentir, meaning “to feel strongly again.” It first meant strong feeling, then came to mean bitter anger over unfair treatment.
Common phrases
feel resentmentharbour resentmentdeep resentmentresidual resentment
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is resentment the same as anger?
- Not exactly. Resentment is anger that lasts longer and often comes from feeling unfairly treated.
- Is resentment formal or informal?
- It is common in both everyday and formal writing, especially in academic or serious contexts.
- What is the difference between resentment and bitterness?
- Resentment is anger about a specific unfair event. Bitterness is usually deeper and more general.
- Can I say 'I have resentment'?
- Yes, but it sounds more natural to say 'I feel resentment' or 'I feel resentment toward someone.'