jealous
/ˈdʒɛləs
/adjective
1Feeling or showing an envious resentment of someone or their achievements, possessions, or perceived advantages: she was always jealous of me...
- They were much more intelligent than we were, and quite frankly, we were jealous of their achievements.
- By our very nature, we are selfish, jealous, envious, stricken with strife, and sometimes downright rebellious.
- It would be selfish to be jealous of him, and I could truthfully say I wasn't.
Synonyms
envious, covetous, desirous;
resentful, grudging, begrudging;
jaundiced, bitter, malicious, spiteful;
green with envy, green, green-eyed;
greedy, selfish, acquisitive
formal emulous
1.1Feeling or showing a resentful suspicion that one’s partner is attracted to or involved with someone else: a jealous husband...
- We stopped sleeping together, but when Hanna got a new boyfriend I was jealous for the first time ever.
- A jealous husband broke a man's nose because he thought someone was ‘ogling’ his wife.
- Also, she had been asked to join study groups, but the husband was jealous, and forbade her from meeting with other students.
Synonyms
suspicious, distrustful, mistrustful, doubting, insecure, anxious;
apprehensive of rivals, possessive, proprietorial, overprotective, clinging, controlling, dominating
1.2Fiercely protective of one’s rights or possessions: the men were proud of their achievements and jealous of their independence...
- Mr Dallas said Edmunds was possessive and jealous of Miss Lawrance and took the view that if he could not have her then no one else would.
- He was too possessive of her, she was too jealous of him.
- It means that he cares enough about you and your relationship that he is getting jealous and protective of you.
Synonyms
protective, defensive, vigilant, watchful, heedful, mindful, careful, solicitous, attentive
1.3(Of God) demanding faithfulness and exclusive worship.In Hebrews we also meet the strong protests of the jealous God, who is intolerant of rivals with a holy intolerance....
- The religious justification derives from the ban on graven images, common to the jealous God of the Old Testament and to Allah.
- God in the Old Testament of the Bible is a vengeful, jealous God that smites those who disobey him.
Origin
Middle English: from Old French gelos, from medieval Latin zelosus (see zealous).
This comes via Old French gelos and medieval Latin zelosus from Greek zelos, also the source of zeal (Late Middle English).