resent
gb/ɹɪzˈɛnt/ us/ɹɪzˈɛnt/
B2
English
~ 9000
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
state
1
feel bitter about unfairness
To feel angry and unhappy about something because you think it is not fair or is not respectful.
Usage pattern:
to resent [someone/something] (for) [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "resent" with "recent" because they look similar, but "recent" means "not long ago" and is usually an adjective. Another mistake is using "resent" to mean simply "hate"; "resent" is specifically about anger or bitterness caused by something you feel is unfair or disrespectful, often with a sense that this feeling lasts over time. Learners may also forget that "resent" takes an object, as in "I resent him" or "She resents the decision," or a verb in -ing form, as in "They resent being told what to do."
Synonyms
begrudge (Often suggests envy or reluctant acceptance, while "resent" focuses more on a feeling of unfairness or insult.)
|
take offense at (Stresses feeling personally insulted at a specific act or remark; "resent" can be broader and longer-lasting.)
Antonyms
accept (To receive or tolerate something without anger, the opposite of continuing to feel bitter or wronged.)
Collocations
deeply resent
|bitterly resent
|come to resent
|grow to resent
|resent the fact that
|resent the implication
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|conflict
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Many employees resent being asked to work late without extra pay.
- He openly resented his brother’s success, feeling that life had treated him unfairly.
- She resents the way her ideas are ignored in meetings.
- Local residents resent having decisions imposed on them by officials in the capital.
- I resent the implication that I haven’t worked hard enough.
Learner examples
- She resents her boss for shouting at her in front of everyone.
- I resent the way he talks to me, as if I am a child.
- They resent paying so much money for such a small room.
- He resented his parents for not listening to him.
- I think he still resents what happened last year.
Grammar
Dictionary form
resent
IPA
GB/ɹɪzˈɛnt/
US/ɹɪzˈɛnt/
Syllables & stress
re - sent (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (sent)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: resent
- 3rd Person Singular: resents
- Present Participle: resenting
- Past: resented
Word family
Forms
resents
verb
resenting
verb
resented
verb
Core family
resentment
noun B2
resentful
adjective
Related words
resentfully
adverb
Advanced or less common
resentfulness
noun
Expressions
resent the fact that
1/ɹɪzˈɛnt ðə fˈækt ðˈæt/
fixed phrase
be bitter about a situation
To feel angry and unhappy because of something that is true or has happened, usually something you think is unfair.
Examples
- She resents the fact that she earns less than her male colleagues.
- He still resents the fact that his parents moved when he was a teenager.
- Many citizens resent the fact that they were not consulted about the changes.
resent the implication
1/ɹɪzˈɛnt ðə ˌɪmplɪkˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
object to what is being implied
To feel angry or offended because of what someone is suggesting about you, even if they do not say it directly.
Examples
- I resent the implication that I’m not committed to this project.
- She strongly resented the implication that she had lied about her qualifications.
- They resent the implication that their community cannot manage its own affairs.