resentful
ri-ZENT-ful
/rɪˈzɛnt.fəl/
Feeling or expressing bitterness or indignation at having been treated unfairly.
Rooted in a sense of injustice; the person feels wronged or passed over in favor of someone less deserving.
The story behind the word. Formed from French resentir, combining re- (again, back) with Latin sentire ('to feel'). Literally, it means 'to feel back' or re-experience an old emotional pain every time you recall the insult.
Word relationships
- aggrieved: Aggrieved highlights the official or emotional status of being injured by injustice.
- embittered: Embittered describes a long-term, deep-seated corruption of character due to repeated disappointment.
- forgiving: Forgiving describes readiness to overlook injuries or unfair treatment.
- grateful: Grateful implies appreciation and warmth toward others.
Commonly confused with
- reluctant: Reluctant means unwilling to do something, while resentful means feeling bitter about a past action or insult.
Word family
- resent (verb): To feel bitterness or indignation at an action or statement.
- resentment (noun): A feeling of indignant displeasure at real or perceived injury.
- resentfully (adverb): In a resentful or indignant manner.
Collocations
- resentful tone
- feel resentful
- deeply resentful
- resentful glance
Idioms & expressions
- harbor resentment
Example sentences
- "He grew resentful after being passed over for promotion three times despite his superior sales figures." Workplace scenario
- "She remained deeply resentful of the strict rules imposed by her stepmother during her teenage years." Modern biography
Memory hook
When you RESENT, you RE-SENT the bad memory back into your mind to feel hurt again. RE-SENTiment re-feels an old wound.
When not to use
Avoid using if the bitterness stems purely from personal failure rather than perceived unfair treatment by others.
Fun facts
- In 17th-century English, 'resentment' could mean a warm, reciprocal feeling of gratitude (re-feeling a kindness), before settling exclusively into a negative meaning.
Related words
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