any cautious, defeatist, or cynical attitude based on the belief that the individual and human institutions exist in a hostile or indifferent universe or society.
an oppressive awareness of the futility of trying to improve one's status in life or in society.
Origin of ressentiment
From French, dating back to 1940–45; see origin at resentment
1943, a word from Nietzsche, from German ressentiment, from French ressentiment (see resentment). The French word also was borrowed as obsolete English resentiment (16c.) "feeling or sense (of something); state of being deeply affected by (something); resentment."
