Jealousy is the feeling of anger or bitterness which someone has when they think that another person is trying to take a lover or friend, or a possession, away from them.
At first his jealousy only showed in small ways–he didn't mind me talking to otherguys.
Synonyms: suspicion, distrust, mistrust, possessiveness More Synonyms of jealousy
2. uncountable noun
Jealousy is the feeling of anger or bitterness which someone has when they wish that they could have the qualities or possessions that another person has.
Her beauty causes envy and jealousy.
Synonyms: envy, resentment, resentfulness, enviousness More Synonyms of jealousy
jealousy in British English
(ˈdʒɛləsɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-ousies
the state or quality of being jealous
Also called (obsolete): jealoushood
jealousy in American English
(ˈdʒɛləsi)
noun
1.
the quality or condition of being jealous
2. Word forms: pluralˈjealousies
an instance of this; jealous feeling
Word origin
ME jalousie < OFr gelosie < gelos: see jealous
Examples of 'jealousy' in a sentence
jealousy
There is often envy or jealousy of others.
Munro, Bill Dr. & Munro, Frances Beat Stress (1992)
You avoid letting jealousy jinx a love match.
The Sun (2010)
The highs are followed by socialist moments of boiling resentment and jealousy.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She tried but she was still tormented by the anger and jealousy.
Mansfield, Patricia Why Am I Afraid to be Assertive? (1994)
How does she deal with the prospect of jealousy and resentment from her colleagues?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
My anger and jealousy of them were the cancer.
Christianity Today (2000)
So there is envy and jealousy, yes.
The Sun (2010)
He's being driven by jealousy rather than love.
The Sun (2012)
Jealousy, rivalry and conflicting ideals help to tear the pair apart.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Neither is he mature if he indulges in jealousy, envy or meanness.
Lumsden, Robert 23 Steps to Successful Achievement (1972)
Germans are extremely lucky to have this man in their midst and it would be monumental folly to let petty jealousy undermine his position.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
There's rivalry but no jealousy.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
There was so much petty jealousy in the FA.
Leo McKinstry Sir Alf: A Major Reappraisal of the Life and Times of England's Greatest FootballManager (2006)
A mixed programme of modern works with love, jealousy and betrayal as its themes.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
What you see is what you get: petty machinations, jealousy and recrimination.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Quotations
O! Beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds onWilliam ShakespeareOthello
Love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the graveBible: Song of Solomon
It is not love that is blind, but jealousyLawrence DurrellJustine
Jealousy is no more than feeling alone against smiling enemiesElizabeth BowenThe House in Paris
Jealousy is always born with love, but does not always die with itDuc de la RochefoucauldMaxims
Jealousy is the greatest of all evils, and the one which arouses the least pity in the person who causes itDuc de la RochefoucauldMaxims
Love that is fed by jealousy dies hardOvidRemedia Amoris
To jealousy, nothing is more frightful than laughterFrançoise SaganLa Chamade
Anger and jealousy can no more bear to lose sight of their objects than loveGeorge EliotThe Mill on the Floss
the injured lover's hellJohn MiltonParadise Lost
In other languages
jealousy
British English: jealousy NOUN
Jealousy is the feeling of anger that someone has when they think that another person is trying to take away someone or something that they love.
At first his jealousy only showed in small ways–he didn't mind me talking to other guys.
American English: jealousy
Brazilian Portuguese: ciúmes
Chinese: 猜忌
European Spanish: celos
French: jalousie
German: Eifersucht
Italian: gelosia
Japanese: 嫉妬
Korean: 질투
European Portuguese: ciúmes
Latin American Spanish: celos
Chinese translation of 'jealousy'
jealousy
(ˈdʒɛləsɪ)
n(u)
(= possessiveness)[of husband, wife etc]嫉妒 (jídù)
(= envy) 妒忌 (dùjì)
1 (noun)
Definition
the state of or an instance of feeling jealous
At first his jealousy only showed in small ways - he didn't mind me staying over at a friend's house.
Synonyms
suspicion
Our culture harbours deep suspicions of big-time industry.
distrust
an atmosphere of distrust
mistrust
There was mutual mistrust between the two men.
possessiveness
doubt
Where there is doubt, may we bring faith.
spite
resentment
wariness
the group's obsessive wariness of outsiders
ill-will
dubiety
2 (noun)
Definition
the state of or an instance of feeling jealous
Her beauty causes jealousy.
Synonyms
envy
He admitted his feelings of envy towards his brother.
resentment
Rigid policing can only feed resentment and undermine confidence.
resentfulness
enviousness
spite
Never had she met such spite and pettiness.
hatred
malice
There was no malice on his part.
ill will
He didn't bear anyone any ill will.
covetousness
malignity
the green-eyed monster (informal)
related words
related phobiazelophobia
Quotations
O! Beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on [William Shakespeare – Othello]Love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave [Bible: Song of Solomon]It is not love that is blind, but jealousy [Lawrence Durrell – Justine]Jealousy is no more than feeling alone against smiling enemies [Elizabeth Bowen – The House in Paris]Jealousy is always born with love, but does not always die with it [Duc de la Rochefoucauld – Maxims]Jealousy is the greatest of all evils, and the one which arouses the least pity in the person who causes it [Duc de la Rochefoucauld – Maxims]Love that is fed by jealousy dies hard [Ovid – Remedia Amoris]To jealousy, nothing is more frightful than laughter [Françoise Sagan – La Chamade]Anger and jealousy can no more bear to lose sight of their objects than love [George Eliot – The Mill on the Floss]the injured lover's hell [John Milton – Paradise Lost]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of distrust
Definition
a feeling of suspicion or doubt
an atmosphere of distrust
Synonyms
suspicion,
question,
doubt,
disbelief,
scepticism,
mistrust,
misgiving,
qualm,
wariness,
lack of faith,
dubiety
in the sense of doubt
Definition
uncertainty about the truth, facts, or existence of something
Where there is doubt, may we bring faith.
Synonyms
suspicion,
scepticism,
distrust,
questioning,
fear,
reservations,
cynicism,
disbelief,
apprehension,
mistrust,
misgivings,
disquiet,
qualms,
incredulity,
lack of faith,
misbelief
in the sense of dubiety
Synonyms
doubtfulness,
doubt,
uncertainty,
scepticism,
mistrust,
misgiving,
qualm,
indecision,
incertitude,
dubiosity
Synonyms of 'jealousy'
jealousy
Explore 'jealousy' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ill will
Definition
unkind feeling
He didn't bear anyone any ill will.
Synonyms
hostility,
spite,
dislike,
hatred,
envy,
resentment,
grudge,
malice,
animosity,
aversion,
venom,
antagonism,
antipathy,
enmity,
acrimony,
rancour,
bad blood,
hard feelings,
animus,
malevolence,
unfriendliness
in the sense of malice
Definition
the desire to do harm or cause mischief to others
There was no malice on his part.
Synonyms
spite,
animosity,
enmity,
hate,
hatred,
bitterness,
venom,
spleen,
rancour,
bad blood,
ill will,
animus,
malevolence,
vindictiveness,
evil intent,
malignity,
spitefulness,
vengefulness,
maliciousness
in the sense of mistrust
Definition
lack of trust
There was mutual mistrust between the two men.
Synonyms
suspicion,
scepticism,
distrust,
doubt,
uncertainty,
apprehension,
misgiving,
wariness,
dubiety
in the sense of resentment
Rigid policing can only feed resentment and undermine confidence.