ressentiment

[ French ruh-sahn-tee-mahn ]

noun
  1. 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.

  2. an oppressive awareness of the futility of trying to improve one's status in life or in society.

Origin of ressentiment

1
From French, dating back to 1940–45; see origin at resentment

Words Nearby ressentiment

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use ressentiment in a sentence

  • Il voyait, sans le moindre ressentiment, la figure austère de son père, conservateur des hypothèques.

    Histoires grises | E. Edouard Tavernier