Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Envious or resentful of the good fortune or achievements of another.
- adjective Fearful or wary of losing one's position or situation to someone else, especially in a sexual relationship.
- adjective Having to do with or arising from feelings of envy, apprehension, or bitterness.
- adjective Vigilant in guarding something.
- adjective Intolerant of disloyalty or infidelity; autocratic.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To suspect; distrust.
- Full of zeal; zealous in the service of a person or cause; solicitous for the honor or interests of one's self or of another, or of some institution, cause, etc.: followed by for.
- Anxiously watchful; suspiciously vigilant; much concerned; suspicious.
- Specifically Troubled by the suspicion or the knowledge that the love, good will, or success one desires to retain or secure has been diverted from one's self to another or others; suspicious or bitterly resentful of successful rivalry: absolute or followed by of with an object: as, a jealous husband or lover; to be jealous of a competitor in love or in business, of one's mistress, or of the attentions of others toward her.
- Fearful; afraid.
- Doubtful.
- Synonyms See
envy .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Zealous; solicitous; vigilant; anxiously watchful.
- adjective Apprehensive; anxious; suspiciously watchful.
- adjective Demanding exclusive devotion; intolerant of rivalry.
- adjective Disposed to suspect rivalry in matters of interest and affection; apprehensive regarding the motives of possible rivals, or the fidelity of friends; distrustful; having morbid fear of rivalry in love or preference given to another; painfully suspicious of the faithfulness of husband, wife, or lover.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective
Suspecting ,suspicious .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective suspicious or unduly suspicious or fearful of being displaced by a rival
- adjective showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's advantages
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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The first meaning of the word jealous is "watchful or solicitous."
Lorna Bright: The Real Religious Challenge of the Second Commandment Lorna Bright 2010
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The first meaning of the word jealous is "watchful or solicitous."
Lorna Bright: The Real Religious Challenge of the Second Commandment Lorna Bright 2010
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A judge today sentenced an Altamonte Springs man to life in prison for shooting his wife to death in what he described as a jealous rage.
SplicedFeed 2009
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Paul, the idea that women get a little sick of male-dominated TOCS (and that POC get a little sick of white-dominated TOCS) because they are jealous is kinda old.
TOC: The Mammoth Book of Mindblowing SF edited by Mike Ashley 2009
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I spent most of April writing what I call a jealous novel.
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He and Anna became “lace curtain Irish,” the term the jealous “shanty Irish” of First Ward used for families that moved up and out.
Wild Bill Donovan Douglas Waller 2011
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He and Anna became “lace curtain Irish,” the term the jealous “shanty Irish” of First Ward used for families that moved up and out.
Wild Bill Donovan Douglas Waller 2011
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Mr. Steele, if I didn't know better, I would be suspicious that you are just plain jealous of Pres.
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I spent most of April writing what I call a jealous novel.
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I think most people are just plain jealous of the Palins.
bilby commented on the word jealous
No I'm not!
July 21, 2008
ruzuzu commented on the word jealous
Have we discussed the difference between jealousy and envy around here anywhere? Is there a difference? I always think of jealousy as fear of losing something you already have and envy as desiring something you don't have. But I don't know that people make that distinction anymore (if they ever did).
November 18, 2011
yarb commented on the word jealous
Jealousy can have that meaning, but I think it's most often used synonymously with envy. But it's a nice distinction.
I'm a fan of the word envy. It's all scrunched-up and spiteful-sounding.
November 18, 2011
rolig commented on the word jealous
Ru, that is the way I have always understood the distinction. But since the phrase, "I'm so jealous!" (which really is a kind of compliment when said to a friend -- meaning, essentially and paradoxically, "I celebrate your good fortune") has become ubiquitous, the finer distinction may be lost on the hoi polloi.
November 18, 2011
jennarenn commented on the word jealous
That distinction is great! Just looked it up, and God is referred to as jealous in the Bible, but never envious. Very cool. :)
November 19, 2011
rolig commented on the word jealous
In fact, the distinction is still very much alive in certain contexts. I don't think anyone would disagree that "a jealous husband" means something very different from "an envious husband". But whereas "envious" still cannot mean what "jealous" has traditionally meant (fearful about losing something one thinks one possesses); "jealous" has been encroaching on the territory of "envious".
November 19, 2011
bilby commented on the word jealous
Lennon's dead so you'll have to do your own version of 'Envious Guy'.
November 19, 2011