Envy vs. Jealousy
The English language is full of synonyms. Synonyms are words that mean nearly the same thing. Envy and jealousy are synonyms because they mean nearly the same thing. However, there are some slight distinctions in their meanings that might make one more appropriate than the other depending on the situation.
Envy is a noun that refers to the desire or longing to possess something that someone else has. It can be a longing for the other's possessions, or for a quality that the other has.
1. Lois envied Maggie the ability to talk with new people without feeling shy.
2. Marcus felt envy when his friend Trevor made the basketball team and he did not.
3. Do you envy your friends' money and possessions?
Jealousy is also a noun that can refer to a feeling of envy over another's possessions or qualities. However, jealousy can also refer to a feeling of possessiveness related to something that you already possess when you feel that it is threatened by another.
1. Anna showed jealousy when Mary began to win awards for her writing. (same definition as envy).
2. Chris said he could not stay with his girlfriend because she was full of jealousy when he spent time with his friends.
3. The little boy reacted with jealousy when his mother held the new baby because he wanted her attention.
In summary, these words can be used synonymously in some situations, but not in others. While you might use envy or jealousy to describe a longing for another's success, you probably wouldn't use envy to describe a jealous girlfriend or boyfriend. The shades of difference between the meanings of these two words make jealous more appropriate in the latter situation.
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