enviable

[en-vee-uh-buhl]

adjective

1. worthy of envy; very desirable.

   an enviable position.

   Synonyms: lucky, fortunate, advantageous

enviable

/ ˈɛnvɪəbəl /

adjective

1. exciting envy; fortunate or privileged

Other Word Forms

• enviableness noun
• enviably adverb
• nonenviable adjective
• nonenviableness noun
• nonenviably adverb
• unenviable adjective
• unenviably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of enviable¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; envy + -able

Example Sentences

Thursday’s earnings beat and guidance raise, alongside an enviable jump in same-store sales, reinforced that view.

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While the New York City mayor enjoys an enviable soap box, much of the money depends on the state governor in Albany.

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Suzanne Rogers, who has spent more than five decades as a cast member on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives,” has enviable endurance.

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Over the years, DeGeneres and de Rossi have earned themselves quite a reputation as burgeoning real estate moguls, amassing an incredibly enviable property portfolio in California and beyond.

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Regardless of how you view Ron’s job or happy hour excursions, his life seems enviable.

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Related Words

• advantageous 
• desirable 
• excellent 
• privileged 

When To Use

What does enviable mean?

Enviable means very desirable. It’s especially used to describe things that a person has and that other people want—or a person that other people want to be like.In other words, enviable means worthy of or likely to cause envy—a feeling of desire for something that someone else has and you do not. Envy is also a verb meaning to have feelings of envy toward someone, and enviable is formed from this verb.Envy is not a good feeling—it can be described as a mix of admiration and discontent. Enviable is often used to describe things that are so good that other people will naturally want them (and might even get a little envious or jealous).The opposite of enviable is unenviable, which is typically used to describe tasks or positions that no one wants, as in He was given the unenviable task of making sure everyone paid on time. Example: It’s an enviable position, with a lot of perks, so naturally we have many applicants.