What does unresentful mean?
Unresentful means not feeling or showing resentment. It describes a person, attitude, or response marked by freedom from bitterness, personal hostility, or a desire for revenge. The word is especially appropriate when someone receives criticism, an insult, or an unfavorable decision without becoming hostile. An unresentful person may still disagree strongly, demand an apology, or reject an offer; the word does not imply passivity or an absence of judgment. Rather, it emphasizes that resentment does not govern the reaction. Although the sense is clear, the adjective is uncommon in everyday English and has a somewhat literary or formal tone. Its unusual form also makes it useful for expressing with precision the contrast between principled disagreement and personal bitterness.
adjectiveNot feeling or showing resentment; free from resentment.
- Not feeling or showing resentment; free from resentment.
"He listened to the criticism with an unresentful openness and considered its merits."
"Her unresentful acceptance of the apology preserved the friendship."
"The minister responded to the hostile question in an unresentful and notably courteous manner."
Unresentful turns a negation into a human virtue: it describes someone who can receive criticism without allowing bitterness to take root.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unresentful come from?
Unresentful was formed in English by combining the prefix un-, meaning “not” or “without,” with resentful. Resentful comes from resent, which in turn comes through Old French from Latin resentire, a compound of re- and sentire, “to feel.” The prefix indicates the absence of the resentment expressed by the base adjective.
How unresentful is actually used
This is a rare, formal or literary adjective. It is more explicit and somewhat more emphatic than simply saying that someone is not resentful.
Easily confused with unresentful
Unresentful means free from resentment, whereas resentful means feeling or showing resentment.