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
Mays’ Salieri is at once aghast at such loutish behavior and bitterly envious that Mozart is exceptional enough to get away with it.
—
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Ward gives a softly wrenching performance as the protective but roilingly envious Harry, whose own musical dreams were lapped by his brother’s talent, and who must eventually admit the limits of his influence.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Samuel also suggested that Brady was envious of Drake Maye’s rise.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
At just 14 years old, Lox Pratt has landed two roles that would have fellow actors — of any age — considerably envious.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for envious
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Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Ward gives a softly wrenching performance as the protective but roilingly envious Harry, whose own musical dreams were lapped by his brother’s talent, and who must eventually admit the limits of his influence.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Samuel also suggested that Brady was envious of Drake Maye’s rise.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
At just 14 years old, Lox Pratt has landed two roles that would have fellow actors — of any age — considerably envious.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 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 26 Feb. 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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