jealous

adjective

ˈje-ləs How to pronounce jealous (audio)
Definition of jealousnext
1
as in possessive
intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness a boyfriend who became jealous whenever she paid attention to anyone but him

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in envious
having or showing mean resentment of another's possessions or advantages was jealous of his friend's great popularity with the girls

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of jealous Sorensen allegedly admitted to sideswiping 20-year-old Jonathan Langdon's motorcycle while in a jealous rage, according to court records. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026 One person interviewed by the Garfield County sheriff’s deputy who investigated the incidents said videos were taken and shared back and forth to make others jealous. — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 10 Aug. 2026 Some of the Black women in the league and many of the people covering it are jealous of and bitter toward the popularity of Clark and Cunningham. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026 What family is without someone who at times is angry, drunk, jealous, depressed, impaired or in deep despair? — Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for jealous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jealous
  1. possessive
  2. envious
  3. covetous
  4. resentful
  5. malicious
Adjective
  • The friends told police that Benedict had become possessive of Pitulic, and had accused her of cheating.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 2026
  • But needy, possessive Nikki smothers Bear, and what plays out is a horrifying tale of obsessive love gone wrong — sour, curdled and violent.
    — Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 23 May 2026
Definition of possessive
Adjective
  • To hear the National Weather Service tell it, a postcard weather picture awaits the Bay Area this weekend — the kind that makes those who live outside the region a bit envious from afar.
    — Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Despite his rakish lifestyle, Don Juan falls in love with innocent Adriana, infuriating the envious Lucrezia Borgia (Estelle Taylor), who plots to ruin the young lovers’ nascent romance.
    — Air Mail, Air Mail, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of envious
Adjective
  • Starring Elordi and Barry Keoghan, Fennell’s dark comedy about class resentment and covetous destruction was sold on the promise of erotic excess.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Feb. 2026
  • For most players, that amount of storage is realistically enough for all but the most covetous data hoarders.
    — Matt Kamen, Wired News, 3 Aug. 2025
Definition of covetous
Adjective
  • Thus, our heroes must peel themselves off from the couch and go on the run with their resentful felines Dio and GG bouncing along in backpacks.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Unsurprisingly, residents hate the idea and are resentful that they were blindsided by the announcement.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of resentful
Adjective
  • This will likely not be the last time US courts see the malicious tactic, as AI tools become more commonplace in court systems.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • After all, an agent could accept a URL and download a malicious package without its human user even knowing.
    — David Berreby, IEEE Spectrum, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of malicious

Browse Nearby Words

jazzy
jealous
jealously
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jealous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jealous. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on jealous

Nglish: Translation of jealous for Spanish Speakers

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