resentment
B2Formal, semi-formal, informal (emotional contexts)
Definition
Meaning
Bitter indignation at having been treated unfairly.
A persistent, complex emotion blending anger, disappointment, and a sense of injustice, often held over time and stemming from perceived slights, injuries, or unfair treatment.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Resentment implies a lingering, often internalized feeling, distinct from fleeting anger. It typically involves a perceived power imbalance or moral injury and can be directed at individuals, groups, institutions, or situations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Equally strong negative connotations in both varieties, associated with bitterness and prolonged grievance.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American English corpora, but widely used in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
resentment at/towards/against [person/group]resentment over/about [issue/action]resentment for [gerund/noun phrase]resentment that [clause]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “harbour resentment”
- “nurse a resentment”
- “resentment boils over”
- “full of resentment”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Describes employee morale issues, e.g., 'resentment over pay disparities' or 'resentment towards new management policies.'
Academic
Used in psychology, sociology, and political science to analyse group dynamics, social injustice, and historical grievances.
Everyday
Common in discussions of personal relationships, family conflicts, or workplace frustrations.
Technical
In psychology, a specific emotional response to perceived unfairness, often linked to rumination and negative affect.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She felt some resentment when her friend forgot her birthday.
- There was resentment in his voice.
- The new rules caused a lot of resentment among the staff.
- He tried not to show his resentment.
- Decades of economic neglect have fostered deep resentment in the region.
- Her resentment towards her former colleague was barely concealed.
- The policy, while pragmatic, risked stoking popular resentment against the government.
- He analysed the historical roots of the ethnic resentment with clinical detachment.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
RE-SENT-MENT: Imagine having to RE-SEND (re-sent) an angry message because the feeling keeps coming back.
Conceptual Metaphor
Resentment is a poison; Resentment is a burden; Resentment is a smouldering fire.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не является прямым эквивалентом 'раздражение' (irritation) или 'злость' (anger). Ближе к 'озлобленность', 'неприязнь на почне обиды'.
- Избегайте кальки 'ресентимент'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'resentment' as a verb (correct verb: 'resent').
- Confusing with 'resentfulness' (rare).
- Misspelling as 'ressentiment' (the Nietzschean philosophical term).
Practice
Quiz
Which word is LEAST likely to be associated with 'resentment'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Anger is a more immediate, often shorter-lived reaction. Resentment is a lingering, brooding feeling of bitterness stemming from a past wrong or injustice.
While universally considered a negative and corrosive emotion, some philosophers and psychologists argue it can signal a legitimate perception of injustice, motivating change.
Yes, resentment is primarily an internal, emotional state. It can be felt intensely without being expressed outwardly.
'Resentful' is the adjective, as in 'a resentful attitude'. The verb is 'resent'.