To resent means to feel bitter or angry about something you think is unfair, especially when that feeling lingers and won't go away. When you resent something, it bothers you every time you think about it, like a splinter that keeps hurting.

You might resent a younger sibling who seems to get away with things you'd be punished for. A student might resent having to redo an assignment when they thought their first version was good enough. Workers might resent a coworker who takes credit for their ideas. The feeling combines anger with a sense of injustice: you don't just dislike what happened, you feel wronged.

Resentment often builds up over time rather than flaring up all at once. If your friend cancels plans with you once, you might feel disappointed. But if they cancel repeatedly while making time for other friends, resentment can start growing. That's what makes resentment tricky: it can poison relationships slowly, turning small annoyances into big grudges.

The word resentful describes someone who carries these feelings, while resentment is the feeling itself.