resent
B2Formal to neutral; common in written and spoken English but more frequent in formal or serious contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To feel bitterness or indignation at something perceived as unfair or offensive.
A persistent emotional response involving anger, hurt, or grudges due to perceived injustice, often leading to passive-aggressive behavior or strained relationships.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically implies a personal slight; the object is usually a specific action, situation, or person, and the feeling often lingers over time.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal; both variants use the word with identical meaning and grammatical patterns.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in British English, but interchangeable without significant nuance.
Frequency
Equally common in both British and American English, with no notable frequency differences.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
resent + noun phraseresent + gerundresent + that-clauseresent + someone + for + gerund/nounVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “resent the fact that”
- “bear a grudge (related)”
- “harbor resentment”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Employees may resent unfair workload distribution or lack of recognition.
Academic
Researchers might resent plagiarism or insufficient citation of their work.
Everyday
People often resent being ignored or treated with disrespect.
Technical
In psychology, resentment is analyzed as a cognitive-emotional response to perceived inequity.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She resents the constant rain in autumn.
- I resent having to queue for everything.
American English
- He resents the high cost of healthcare.
- They resent being excluded from the party.
adverb
British English
- He nodded resentfully when asked to help.
- She spoke resentfully of her past experiences.
American English
- They shook their heads resentfully at the decision.
- He muttered resentfully under his breath.
adjective
British English
- He was resentful of her quick promotion.
- A resentful silence filled the room.
American English
- She felt resentful about the last-minute changes.
- His resentful glare was unmistakable.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I resent loud music at night.
- She resents being alone.
- They resent the new homework policy.
- He resents his friend for forgetting his birthday.
- Many citizens resent the increase in taxes without improved services.
- She deeply resents having to justify her choices.
- The team resents the management's disregard for their input, leading to low morale.
- Historically, marginalized groups have resented systemic inequalities perpetuated by institutions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Link 'resent' to 'sentiment' – both involve feelings, but 'resent' adds 're-' for repeated or negative feelings about something sent your way.
Conceptual Metaphor
Resentment as a toxic substance or weight; e.g., 'carrying a load of resentment' or 'poisoned by resentment'.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation with 'обижаться', which can be more passive; 'resent' is active and implies anger over unfairness.
- Ensure object is specified; Russian might omit it in some contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'resent' without an object (e.g., 'I resent.' is incomplete).
- Confusing with 're-sent' (meaning sent again).
- Overusing in casual speech where 'annoyed' or 'upset' might be more appropriate.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence correctly uses 'resent'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it exclusively conveys negative feelings of bitterness or indignation towards something perceived as unfair.
Yes, but less commonly; e.g., 'She is resenting the changes' is grammatically correct but often replaced with simple tenses for naturalness.
Primarily a transitive verb; related forms include the adjective 'resentful' and adverb 'resentfully'.
'Resent' implies anger due to perceived injustice, while 'dislike' is a general aversion without the nuance of unfairness.
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