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envy

Definition

  • noun: the feeling of wanting to have what someone else has
  • noun: painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage
  • verb: to feel a desire to have what someone else has
  • verb: to feel envy toward or on account of
  • sometimes used humorously after a noun that indicates an object of envy
  • synonyms: malice, spite, emulation

Examples

  • My neighbor's new lawn mower has given me a bad case of lawn mower 'envy'. [=I'm very envious of my neighbor's new lawn mower]

  • Her beautiful hair was an 'object of envy'. [=people felt envy because of her beautiful hair]

  • I don't 'envy' you your dental problems. [=I'm glad that I don't have your dental problems]

Movie clips

Movie quotes

  • (..) Oh, private sector. Okay. - So, uh, what do you do? - A little of this, a little of that. Wow, that's great. You know, I really envy people that can make a living that way... I, uh, had a neighbor, Glen. He used to make chainsaw sculptures... and then he'd sell 'em at the flea market. (..)
    2006 Idiocracy