1
: feeling or showing envy
envious of their neighbor's new car
envious looks
enviously
adverb
enviousness
noun
Usage of Jealous and Envious
Some assert that only envious is correctly used to describe someone who feels or shows a very strong desire for something that belongs to someone else, but in truth both envious and jealous commonly carry this meaning. Jealous alone is used to describe someone who tends to suspect unfaithfulness.
a jealous lover
Examples of envious in a Sentence
a family that is envious of their neighbors' big house
Recent Examples on the Web
Philadelphia's mayor at the time, Frank Rizzo, was a brash and brutal populist with a knack for fear-mongering that would make America's current president envious.
—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
Scar is secretive, strategic and envious of his brother Mufasa.
—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
On the other hand, Spain would surely become envious if England established a successful colony there.
—
Literary Hub,
12 June 2026
Based on my conversations with more than 20 people in the community, some view them as good economic opportunities and are envious of those whose grazing lands were selected for lease.
—
Sanggay Tashi,
The Conversation,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for envious
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Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
Scar is secretive, strategic and envious of his brother Mufasa.
—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
On the other hand, Spain would surely become envious if England established a successful colony there.
—
Literary Hub,
12 June 2026
Based on my conversations with more than 20 people in the community, some view them as good economic opportunities and are envious of those whose grazing lands were selected for lease.
—
Sanggay Tashi,
The Conversation,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for envious
Cite this Entry
“Envious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/envious. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
envious
adjective
en·vi·ous
ˈen-vē-əs 
: feeling or showing envy
envious of a neighbor's good luck
an envious look
enviously
adverb
enviousness
noun
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