envy

[ˈɛnvi]

envy Definition

• 1. a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck
• 2. desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable attribute belonging to (someone else)

Using envy: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "envy" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  She couldn't help but feel envy towards her friend's new car.

• Example

  His success was the cause of much envy among his colleagues.

• Example

  I envy your ability to speak multiple languages.

• Example

  She envied her sister's beauty.

envy Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for envy

• jealousy
• resentment
• covetousness
• grudge
• bitterness

Antonyms for envy

• contentment
• satisfaction

Idioms Using envy

• to make no secret of one's envy

  to openly express one's jealousy or desire for something

  Example

  She made no secret of her envy when her friend got a promotion instead of her.

• to eat one's heart out with envy

  to feel intense jealousy or envy

  Example

  She ate her heart out with envy when she saw her classmates going on a trip to Europe.

• to be the envy of someone

  to be something that someone else desires and is envious of

  Example

  Her successful career was the envy of all her friends.

Phrases with envy

• green with envy

  extremely jealous

  Example

  When she saw her ex-boyfriend with his new girlfriend, she was green with envy.

• an object of envy

  something that is desired by others and causes them to feel envious

  Example

  Her luxurious lifestyle made her an object of envy among her peers.

• envy of the gods

  an object or person that is so beautiful or perfect that it arouses envy even among the gods

  Example

  The Taj Mahal is often called the envy of the gods for its stunning beauty.

Origins of envy

from Latin 'invidia', meaning 'envy, jealousy'

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Summary: envy in Brief

The term 'envy' [ˈɛnvi] refers to a feeling of discontent or resentment towards someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck. It can also mean a desire to have something belonging to someone else. Examples include 'She envied her sister's beauty' and 'His success was the cause of much envy among his colleagues.' Idioms like 'green with envy' and 'to eat one's heart out with envy' describe intense jealousy, while 'to be the envy of someone' denotes something that others desire.