# resentful

/ɹɪˈzɛntfəɫ/ (US) · /ɹɪsˈɛntfəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/resentful
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

feeling angry or bitter because you think you are being treated unfairly. You use this when someone feels they deserve more respect or better treatment than they are getting.

For teachers: feeling or showing bitterness and anger because of a perceived injustice or lack of recognition. Often used to describe a person's emotional state or a specific facial expression.

## Examples

- He looked resentful when he heard his colleague got a promotion.
- The younger employees felt resentful when the company decided to give the older staff a bonus but not the new hires.
- Her resentful silence during the meeting suggested that she felt her contributions were being overlooked in favor of more senior colleagues.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.