Synonyms

resent

American

[ri-zent] / rɪˈzɛnt /

verb (used with object)

to feel or show displeasure or indignation at (a person, act, remark, etc.) from a sense of injury or insult.

resent British

/ rɪˈzɛnt /

verb

(tr) to feel bitter, indignant, or aggrieved at

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of resent

First recorded in 1595–1605; from French ressentir “to feel (an emotion),” from Old French res(s)entir, equivalent to re- re- + sentir “to feel,” from Latin sentīre; see sense

Explanation

To resent something is to feel anger or bitterness toward it. You might resent someone who has treated you poorly. To resent is a strong, negative feeling. You may resent the accusation that you were stealing cookies, or when a teacher yelled at you for whispering, even though everyone else was too. You might resent a friend who has more money or friends than you. Lots of people resent celebrities because they're famous and wealthy. If your friend borrowed a sweater and didn’t return it, you would probably resent it. Resenting is the opposite of being grateful.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing resent

The Diary of Anne Frank

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

List 3

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

ACT Vocabulary List

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Second, if she outlives him, I assume his children might resent her, since that could tie up a sizable portion of their inheritance.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 3, 2026

The churn is especially pronounced in small firms, where favoritism is hard to hide and easy to resent.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 28, 2026

They don’t resent Mr. Trump because he was born into wealth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026

Or maybe you love what a little ginger does to soups or oatmeal but resent the peeling and grating it demands.

From Salon • Jan. 5, 2026

Dofta Leila had always doted on her daughter-in-law, so much so that Dedd sometimes worried that Leila’s five daughters would resent her.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023