Meanings
plural resentments · alternative obsolete resentiment · alternative obsolete ressentiment
- countableuncountableAnger or displeasure stemming from belief that one or one's group has been wronged or betrayed by others; indignation.
Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs. Bennet, whose dislike of his general behaviour, was sharpened into particular resentment, by his having slighted one of her daughters.
1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter III, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume I, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 192 more examples
Younger [Customs] examiners, who, perhaps, have not yet acquired the intuition resulting from years of experience, seem partly responsible for the closer examination of incoming luggage. Not only is this closer scrutiny arousing feelings of resentment among passengers, but it is causing serious delays in the departure of boat trains, many of which have been reaching their destinations two or three hours late.
1951 November, “Delays to Boat Trains”, in Railway Magazine, page 719“I Love Lisa” opens with one of my favorite underappreciated running jokes from The Simpsons: the passive-aggressive, quietly contentious relationship of radio jocks Bill and Marty, whose mindless happy talk regularly gives way to charged exchanges that betray the simmering resentment and disappointment perpetually lingering just under the surface of their relationship.
2012 August 5, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “I Love Lisa” (season 4, episode 15; originally aired 02/11/1993)”, in AV Club, archived from the original on 29 Mar 2013 - countableobsoleteuncountableThe state of holding something in the mind as a subject of contemplation, or of being inclined to reflect upon it; feeling; impression.
It is a greater wonder that so many of them die, with so little resentment of their danger.
1651–1653, Jer[emy] Taylor, ΕΝΙΑΥΤΟΣ [Eniautos]. A Course of Sermons for All the Sundays of the Year. […], 2nd edition, London: […] Richard Royston […], published 1655, →OCLC1 more example
In my mind it is a ſign of a great deal of natural Integrity and inbred Nobleneſs of ſpirit, that maugre [in spite of] the heavineſs of his Complexion that thus ſtrongly bears him dovvn from apprehending ſo concerning Metaphyſicall Truths, yet he retains ſo vivid reſentments of the more sſolid Morality.
1668, Franciscus Euistor the Palæopolite [pseudonym; Henry More], “The First Dialogue”, in Divine Dialogues, Containing Sundry Disquisitions & Instructions Concerning the Attributes of God and His Providence in the World. […], London: […] James Flesher, →OCLC, paragraph II, page 6 - countableobsoleteuncountableSatisfaction; gratitude.
The Council taking notice of the many good services performed by Mr. John Milton […] have thought fit to declare their resentment and good acceptance of the same.
1651, The Council Book
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAnger or displeasure stemming from belief that one or one's group has been wronged or betrayed by others; indignation.
More synonyms by meaning
nouna feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinsentiō, sentīre“to feel”
- Old Frenchsentir
- Middle French and Frenchressentiment
- Englishresentment
From resent + -ment, after Middle French and French ressentiment (in Old French as recentement), from an archaic usage of the verb ressentir via Old French sentir, from Latin sentiō, sentīre (“to feel”). Compare Italian risentimento, Portuguese ressentimento, and Spanish resentimiento. Doublet of resentiment and ressentiment, the former attested slightly earlier.
More words from Middle French and French, Old French, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic مرارة
- مرارةanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Bulgarian възмущение
- възмущение (văzmuštenie)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Catalan ressentiment, rancor
- ressentimentanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- rancoranger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- tírriaanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- indignacióanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Chinese Mandarin 憤慨 /愤慨, 不滿 /不满
- 憤慨 /愤慨 (fènkǎi)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- 不滿 /不满 (bùmǎn)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Czech vztek, zlost
- vztekanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- zlostanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- dopalanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Danish harme, fortørnelse
- harmeanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- fortørnelseanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- vredeanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Dutch misnoegen, wrok
- misnoegenanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- wrokanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Esperanto rankoro
- rankoroanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Estonian pahameel, meelepaha
- pahameelanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- meelepahaanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Finnish närkästys, mielipaha
- närkästysanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- mielipahaanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
French ressentiment, agacement
- ressentimentanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- agacementanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- rancuneanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
German Ressentiment, Groll
- Ressentimentanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- Grollanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Greek δυσαρέσκεια, αγανάκτηση
- δυσαρέσκεια (dysaréskeia)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- αγανάκτηση (aganáktisi)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- κακοφανισμός (kakofanismós)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Hindi रोष, नाराज़गी
- रोष (roṣ)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- नाराज़गी (nārāzgī)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- आक्रोश (ākroś)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- अप्रसन्नता (aprasannatā)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- अमर्ष (amarṣ)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- रंजिश (rañjiś)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- मनोमालिन्य (manomālinya)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- कुढ़न (kuṛhan)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- मनमुटाव (manmuṭāv)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Hungarian neheztelés
- neheztelésanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Icelandic gremja, gremjublandin vanþóknun
- gremjaanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- gremjublandin vanþóknunanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- biturðanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Japanese 恨み, 憤慨
- 恨み (urami)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- 憤慨 (fungai)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- 憤り (ikidōri)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- 憤懣 (funman)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Korean 원망
- 원망 (wonmang)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Māori hūngeingei, hīkaka
- hūngeingeianger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- hīkakaanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- hūneineianger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Norwegian Bokmål misnøye
- misnøyeanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Polish resentyment, ansa
- resentymentanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- ansaanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Portuguese ressentimento
- ressentimentoanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Romanian resentiment
- resentimentanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Russian негодова́ние, возмуще́ние
- негодова́ние (negodovánije)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- возмуще́ние (vozmuščénije)anger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Spanish resentimiento, animadversión
- resentimientoanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- animadversiónanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- animosidadanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- rencoranger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- tirriaanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- indignaciónanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Swedish harm
- harmanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Thai ความขุ่นเคือง, ความไม่พอใจ
- ความขุ่นเคืองanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- ความไม่พอใจanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Turkish dargınlık, burukluk
- dargınlıkanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
- buruklukanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Vietnamese giận
- giậnanger or displeasure felt out of belief that others have engaged in wrongdoing or mistreatment; indignation.
Cite this entry
resentment. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/resentment
“resentment.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/resentment. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “resentment,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/resentment.
Source: resentment on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.