Envy vs Jealousy
Published January 19, 2023. Updated January 19, 2023.
Envy and jealousy are similar in that they are both nouns that refer to a negative feeling towards someone who has something that you do not. However, envy is a noun that refers to “the feeling of wanting something someone else has.” Jealousy, on the other hand, is a more serious version of these emotions, and it is a noun that refers to “an intense feeling of resentment or hostility towards someone else’s possession or that person’s treatment of another individual.”
Here are some definitions and examples to help make the use of these words clearer.
Envy (noun)
The feeling of wanting something someone else has.
Examples:
I have to admit that I did feel some envy upon seeing my coworker’s new car.
It is hard to feel envy for my sister’s new position at work, as she toiled away endlessly to earn it.
It is important to remember that everyone feels envy at some point or another. Envy is simply an emotion brought on by the feeling of wanting something someone else has. It has to do with two parties, one wanting what the other possesses.
Jealousy (noun)
An intense feeling of resentment or hostility towards someone else’s possession or that person’s treatment of another individual. Jealousy is usually related to a fear of losing what we already have to someone else.
Examples:
She felt an overwhelming sense of jealousy after seeing her boyfriend’s texts with his so-called platonic friend.
Jealousy is a feeling that can easily end any relationship, be it romantic or otherwise.
Unlike envy, jealousy is much more intense. It is a feeling that can lead to other emotions or actions, and it can especially be brought on when one feels resentment towards how another is being treated over oneself. Jealousy has to do with three parties, it occurs when what we already have (oftentimes a relationship) is threatened by a third person.
Main Points
- Envy is the feeling of wanting something someone else has.
- Jealousy is a much more intense and negative feeling of wanting what someone else has.
- Envy is a natural emotion, but jealousy is something that takes time to develop. Remember to use jealousy when describing these intense feelings, not just for when someone wants something else.
- An easy way to remember the difference between these words is that envy involves two parties (one wanting what the other already has) and jealousy involves three parties (one afraid of losing what he/she already has to someone else).