Resentful Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/rɛˈsɛntfʊl/

Part of Speech

Adjective

Definition

Harboring a sense of bitter indignation, wounded feelings, or stubborn resistance to a situation or person.

Examples

She has been feeling resentful towards her boss since he refused to give her a promotion.
He became resentful of his sibling’s constant favoritism towards their younger sister.
Resentful of being forced to live in a small town, he often rebels against the local authorities.
After the breakup, she felt resentful towards her ex-partner for leaving her.
The politician was criticized for being resentful towards his opposition during the heated debate.

Synonyms

Irate
Bitter
Indignant

Antonyms

Forgiving
Amicable

Etymology

The word “Resentful” derives from Old French “resentir” meaning “to feel again,” and Latin “resensire” meaning “to feel again,” ultimately tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root “sū-” meaning “to feel.”

Usage Notes

“Resentful” can be used to describe feelings of anger, hurt, or frustration towards a person, situation, or event, and can be used in a variety of contexts, including personal conversations, writings, and formal speeches.

Cultural References

Resentful has appeared in various forms of media, such as literature, music, and film, often as a theme or character trait. For example, in the novel “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger, the protagonist Holden Caulfield is often portrayed as resentful towards the phoniness of the adult world.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

“Resentful” can be used in idiomatic expressions such as “resistant to change” or “resentful of being bossed around.”

Related Words or Phrases

Bitter
Discouraged
Indignant

Collocations

Feeling resentful towards
Being resentful at
Showing resentment towards

Frequency of Use

According to the Oxford English Corpus, “Resentful” is a relatively common word in modern English language, used in approximately 1.2% of all written texts.

Common Misspellings

Resentfuly
Resentfull