Envy

/ˈɛnvi/ · noun

Meaning

Resentful desire of something possessed by another or others (but not limited to material possessions)..

Definitions by Sense

1. Resentful desire of something possessed by another or others (but not limited to material possessions).
2. An object of envious notice or feeling.
3. (obsolete) Hatred, enmity, ill-feeling.
4. (obsolete) Emulation; rivalry.
5. (obsolete) Public odium; ill repute.
6. A red-skinned variety of eating apple.
7. (transitive) To feel displeasure or hatred towards (someone) for their good fortune or possessions.
8. (transitive) To resentfully or discontentedly desire (something someone else has that one lacks).

Example Sentences

No bliss enjoyed by us excites his envy more.

Envy, to which the ignoble mind's a slave, Is emulation in the learned or brave.

distilling therefrom an acid envy that robbed her napoleon of all its savour.

Theodorus assures Socrates that no envy will prevent the Stranger from responding

This constitution in former days used to be the envy of the world[.]

Blacke Foryst of Despayr, taking photos of the band Put 'em up on Myspace you're the envy of the land

Syre said laūcelot vnto Arthur by this crye that ye haue made ye wyll put vs that ben aboute yow in grete Ieopardy for there be many Knyghtes that haue grete enuye to vs therfore whan we shal mete at the daye of Iustes there wille be hard skyfte amonge vs

But let me tell the World, If he out-liue the enuie of this day, England did neuer owe so sweet a hope, So much misconstrued in his Wantonnesse.

Synonyms for envy

Antonyms for envy

Related Words

Word Forms

• envies
• envying
• envied

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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