resentment
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of resentment
First recorded in 1610–20; from French ressentiment, Middle French resentiment, equivalent to resenti(r) to resent + -ment -ment
Explanation
Resentment, or the strong and painful bitterness you feel when someone does something wrong to you, doesn’t have actual physical weight, but it feels very heavy and can last a long time. Forgiveness is one way to get rid of resentment. Sometimes resentment lasts for years. It can be strong and hard to pull out, like an old, gnarled tree root. While resentment over being wronged can come from just one act against you, it also can get stronger over time, as in "your growing resentment might just come from the fact that the team captain always picks you last." It also comes from misunderstandings, like feeling resentment over a dirty look you thought was directed at you but really wasn't. It's usually best to root out resentment early.
Vocabulary lists containing resentment
Touching Spirit Bear
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"The First Day of School," Vocabulary from the short story
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Carrie Fisher (1956-2016) Tribute List
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Getting a promotion at work may cause resentment.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 2, 2026
“I think what they’re doing is causing resentment among the people there,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
I don't want to say anger... maybe resentment?
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
But he was able to eventually get to that acceptance to release some of the resentment, to release some of the anger.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026
Petra Cotes watched him arrive without surprise, joy, or resentment, and she only allowed herself an ironic smile.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
But as the years and resentments pile on, their cancerous brotherhood threatens to obliterate them both.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2026
Contrary to your wishes, it could rekindle their resentments.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 26, 2026
So far, the areas reclaimed by government forces have been mainly Arab, where locals had resentments against the SDF.
From BBC ● Jan. 22, 2026
In a world of tribal hatreds and ancient resentments, the Gospel unites people in bonds of love who might otherwise have every reason to treat each other with suspicion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 27, 2025
In her turn, Helen Burns asked me to explain, and I proceeded forthwith to pour out, in my own way, the tale of my sufferings and resentments.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.