Word
resentment
Phoneticsre·sent·ment, stress on the second syllable
US/ɹɪˈzɛnmənt/
UK/ɹɪsˈɛntmənt/
Definitions
01anger at unfairness
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a feeling of anger or bitterness because you think you have been treated unfairly or ignored.
n. a sense of deep and enduring injury or insult that results in feelings of ill will or bitterness. Uncountable in its general sense, though specific instances can be countable.
“He felt a lot of resentment towards his boss for giving the promotion to someone else.”
“The long-standing resentment between the two families finally boiled over into a public legal dispute that lasted for years.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'towards' or 'against' a person, or 'at' a situation.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02gratitude or appreciation
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Archaic
n. an old-fashioned word for feeling thankful or satisfied.
n. the state of feeling satisfaction or gratitude. This sense is entirely obsolete in modern English and is only encountered in historical texts.
“In the old letter, he expressed his resentment for the kind gift he had received.”
“The author used the term resentment to signify his deep appreciation for the patronage he had enjoyed throughout his career.”
Teaching tip
This sense is the opposite of the modern meaning; learners should only be aware of it when reading 17th-century literature.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“He says he has a "great relationship with his brother" but feels resentment towards his parents for creating the "imbalance" between them.” “Resentment continued to build with recurring episodes of the plague.” Etymology
From resent + -ment, after Middle French and French ressentiment (in Old French as recentement), from an archaic usage of the verb ressentir via Old French sentir, from Latin sentiō, sentīre (“to feel”). Compare Italian risentimento, Portuguese ressentimento, and Spanish resentimiento. Doublet of resentiment and ressentiment, the former attested slightly earlier.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/resentment