jealous
7 synonyms and 1 antonym for jealous, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Worried or suspicious that a partner's affection has shifted elsewhere.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use jealous
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
jealous of
green with jealousy
jealous boyfriend
Etymology
From Old French "jalous," ultimately from Greek "zêlos" meaning zeal or fervent devotion — jealous and zealous share the same root.
Full origin of jealous →Frequently asked questions
What does “jealous” mean?
The word “jealous” means worried or suspicious that a partner's affection has shifted elsewhere. In plain terms, feeling threatened by rivalry in love, or resentful of what someone else has.
How do you pronounce “jealous”?
“Jealous” is pronounced JEH-luhs (/ˈd͡ʒɛ.ləs/ in IPA).
How do you use “jealous” in a sentence?
Here is “jealous” used in a sentence: “He got jealous whenever she talked to her ex.”
What part of speech is “jealous”?
“Jealous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “jealous” come from?
The word “jealous” comes from Old French. From Old French "jalous," ultimately from Greek "zêlos" meaning zeal or fervent devotion — jealous and zealous share the same root.
Is “jealous” a common word?
“Jealous” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “jealous” have?
“Jealous” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: worried or suspicious that a partner's affection has shifted elsewhere.
What is the difference between "jealous" and "envious"?
Jealous typically means fearing the loss of something you already have, such as a partner's affection, while envious means wanting something that belongs to someone else. In casual speech, however, jealous is very often used loosely to mean envious.
Is it correct to say "jealous of" someone?
Yes. Jealous is normally followed by the preposition "of," as in "jealous of her success" or "jealous of his money." This construction fits the sense of resenting another person's advantage or possessions.
When should you use "jealous" instead of "envious"?
Use jealous when the feeling involves protecting a relationship or something you fear losing, and envious when you simply want what another person has. Because the two overlap in everyday English, jealous is widely accepted for both meanings.
