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View synonyms for envious

envious

[ en-vee-uhs ]

adjective

  1. full of, feeling, or expressing envy:

    envious of a person's success; an envious attack.

    Synonyms: covetous, jealous, resentful

  2. Archaic.


envious

/ ˈɛnvɪəs /

adjective

  1. feeling, showing, or resulting from envy
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • ˈenviously, adverb
  • ˈenviousness, noun
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Other Words From

  • envi·ous·ly adverb
  • envi·ous·ness noun
  • non·envi·ous adjective
  • non·envi·ous·ly adverb
  • non·envi·ous·ness noun
  • over·envi·ous adjective
  • over·envi·ous·ly adverb
  • over·envi·ous·ness noun
  • quasi-envi·ous adjective
  • quasi-envi·ous·ly adverb
  • un·envi·ous adjective
  • un·envi·ous·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of envious1

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French; Old French envieus < Latin invidiōsus invidious
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Word History and Origins

Origin of envious1

C13: from Anglo-Norman, ultimately from Latin invidiōsus full of envy, invidious ; see envy
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Example Sentences

Though Tesla has its own set of challenges, carmakers and their agencies are keeping a close and envious eye on how the upstart has marketed itself.

From Digiday

When my friend told me that the butterflies in her garden were one of her great joys during the pandemic, I was a bit envious.

Tommy Atkins are nearly always red and plummy, while even an unripe Ataulfo’s skin would make Big Bird envious with its bright yellow glow.

In perhaps some of the best performances of their respective careers, Thompson and Negga portray women who are equally envious and enamored with one another.

A number of my friends have hobbies they are super passionate about, and communities of friends they have met through those hobbies, and I'm envious and a bit mystified.

She sends a miniature of her own image to the court, envious that it will enjoy a proximity she will never attain.

We were already envious of Amal Alamuddin…for her career, not her marriage to George Clooney.

But what if they also know that making us happy or sad or angry or envious would make us more likely to want what they have?

They see people just like them being elevated quickly to power while they languish, and they become envious.

She does not shy from a fight, and she has a flair for political theater to make Ted Cruz envious.

He was a dark impish looking fellow, as lean as Cassius and as crafty and envious as Iago.

God has apportioned to each their lot; and why should I feel envious and discontented, that the best lot did not fall to my share?

Gaily the Esperanza rattled through the fleet, and envious men cried "What cheer!"

Thou who knowest in what corners of the envious earth The jealous God hath hidden the precious stones,Have pity on my long misery!

In itself valueless, yet a treasure in her eyes and mine, for it will protect our child, and many an envious eye is upon her.

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Related Words

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More About Envious

What does envious mean?

Envious means feeling, full of, or expressing envy—a mostly negative feeling of desire for something that someone else has and you do not.

Envy is not a good feeling—it can be described as a mix of admiration and discontent. But it’s not necessarily malicious. Envious is very similar in meaning to jealous. However, jealous usually implies a deeper resentment, perhaps because you feel that you deserve the thing more than the other person, or that it is unfair that they have it.

Envious is often followed by the word of and the person or thing that’s the object of envy, as in I must admit that I’m envious of her talent. 

Example: Other people’s perfectly curated social media feeds often cause us to feel envious, but we need to keep in mind that they don’t show the whole story of what someone’s life is like—only the highlights.

Where does envious come from?

The first records of the word envious come from the 1200s. It comes from the Latin invidia and ultimately derives from the Latin verb invidēre, meaning “to envy” or, more poetically, “to eye maliciously.”

Being envious often involves eyeing other people’s qualities or possessions, especially when they are better or more plentiful than the ones you have. Envy is one of the so-called seven deadly sins and has long been considered one of the vices that can lead people to do bad things. Still, most people are thought to be envious at one time or another. Enviousness can lead to bitterness, but it doesn’t have to. You can be envious of your friend’s success and still be happy for them. When you stop being happy for them and start to resent them for it, that’s being jealous.

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What are some other forms related to envious?

  • enviousness (noun)
  • enviously (adverb)
  • envy (noun)

What are some synonyms for envious?

What are some words that share a root or word element with envious

What are some words that often get used in discussing envious?

What are some words envious may be commonly confused with?

How is envious used in real life?

Most people feel envious occasionally, but they usually only admit it when it’s not so serious.

 

 

Try using envious!

Is envious used correctly in the following sentence?

All the other interns were envious of me because I was the only one who got my own desk.

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