envious
/'enviəs/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective: Feeling or showing a desire to have something that belongs to another person, often accompanied by resentment or ill will towards that person because of their advantages, success, or possessions.
Usage
The adjective "envious" describes the state of wanting what someone else has. It is used to characterize a person's feelings or attitude. It typically follows a linking verb (e.g., be, feel, seem) or comes before a noun it modifies. - It is often followed by the preposition "of" to specify the target of the envy: envious of [something/someone]. - It conveys a stronger, often more negative, feeling than simple admiration.
Examples
- She felt envious of her colleague's promotion.
- He cast an envious glance at his neighbor's new car.
- Their envious comments revealed their jealousy.
- I am not envious of his wealth, but of his freedom.
Advanced Usage
- "To make someone envious": To cause someone to feel envy.
- Her stories of world travel were enough to make anyone envious.
- "With envious eyes": Looking at something with a feeling of envy.
- He watched the winning team celebrate with envious eyes.
Variants and Related Words
- Enviously (adverb): In an envious manner.
- She looked enviously at the designer dress.
- Envy (noun/verb): The feeling itself (noun) or the act of feeling it (verb).
- Noun: His success filled her with envy.
- Verb: I envy your confidence.
Synonyms
- Covetous: Having or showing a great desire to possess something belonging to someone else.
- Jealous (in the context of coveting possessions/success): Resentfully envious.
- Green with envy (idiomatic): Extremely envious.
Antonyms
- Content: Satisfied with what one has.
- Generous: Willing to give and share; not envious.
- Admiring (without resentment): Regarding with respect and warm approval.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Green with envy: To be extremely envious.
- When she saw his new sports car, she was green with envy.
- The envy of: Something so good that it causes envy in others.
- Their garden is the envy of the neighborhood.
Adjective
- showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's advantages
- he was never covetous before he met her
- jealous of his success and covetous of his possessions
- envious of their art collection