What does resent mean?
Resent is a verb meaning to feel bitter, indignant, or personally offended about something. It is used especially when a person believes they have been treated unfairly, betrayed, inconvenienced, or subjected to an unwarranted decision. The word is stronger than dislike and commonly conveys anger or a sense of grievance, though it may also describe quieter, long-lasting resentment. Typical patterns include resenting a decision, resenting someone's behaviour, and resenting being treated in a particular way. Resent can describe an individual reaction or a broader social attitude, as when communities resent a policy they believe is unjust. Its related forms include the noun resentment, the adjective resentful, and the adverb resentfully.
verbTo feel bitter or indignant about something regarded as unfair, unjust, or intrusive. It can also mean to feel offended or take offence at someone's words or actions.
- To feel bitter or indignant about something regarded as unfair, unjust, or harmful.
- To take offence at, or feel personally affronted by, someone's words or behaviour.
"Many residents continued to resent the decision to close the local hospital."
"She resented the suggestion that she had not done enough to help."
"He resented his colleague's interruption, but remained silent."
To resent something is more than merely dislike it: resentment carries a strong sense of anger or indignation, especially when unfairness is involved.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does resent come from?
Resent entered English in the early 17th century from French resentment, a form of resentir, meaning 'to feel strongly against'. The French verb derives from Latin sentire, 'to feel or perceive', with the prefix re- indicating opposition or reversal. The same Latin root underlies words such as sense, sentiment, sentience, consent, and dissent.
Related word forms
How resent is actually used
Resent is transitive and is normally used with a person, treatment, decision, action, or situation as its object. It is stronger and more emotionally charged than dislike and often implies a belief that the object is unfair or improper.