breed resentment

USAGE SUMMARY

"breed resentment" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
It means to cause or create feelings of animosity or ill will towards someone or something. For example, "The unfair actions of the government have bred resentment amongst its citizens."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Bans only breed resentment and discord.

The New York Times

Over time, this will breed resentment.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Denham warned that failure to do so would breed resentment.

The Guardian

Third, to breed resentment towards refugees, and to provoke a violent response among those they attack.

Independent

Alternatively, the increasingly visible gap between rich and poor may breed resentment.

The Economist

It also requires changing the conditions that breed resentment and allow extremists to prey on despair.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Offices can breed resentments and personality clashes, so how can they ensure this won't be used against people?

The Guardian

Getting your stalk on is a good time filler, but it can breed resentments and jealousies where none need be.

WikiHow

He bred resentment.

The New York Times

Such inequality breeds resentment.

The Guardian - Opinion

Has my imperiousness bred resentment?

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "breed resentment", consider the context carefully to ensure it accurately reflects the cause-and-effect relationship between an action or situation and the resulting negative feelings. For instance, highlight specific policies or behaviors that "breed resentment" among a particular group.

Common error

Avoid attributing resentment to vague or overly broad factors. Instead of stating that "society breeds resentment", specify which aspects of society contribute to these feelings, such as economic inequality or lack of opportunity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "breed resentment" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of causing or generating feelings of animosity. It is often used to describe the consequences of certain actions or policies, as seen in examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "breed resentment" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe the act of causing or generating feelings of animosity. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is widely accepted and used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. It serves to highlight the negative consequences of actions or situations, emphasizing the importance of considering potential emotional impacts. When using "breed resentment", it's essential to be specific about the causes and avoid overgeneralizations. Alternatives like "engender resentment" or "foster resentment" can offer subtle variations in tone and meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

engender resentment

Replaces "breed" with "engender", offering a more formal tone while maintaining the core meaning.

foster resentment

Substitutes "breed" with "foster", suggesting a gradual development of resentment.

create resentment

Uses "create" instead of "breed", emphasizing the act of bringing resentment into existence.

generate animosity

Replaces both "breed" and "resentment" with synonyms, altering the tone slightly.

cause bitterness

Focuses on the outcome of breeding resentment, which is bitterness.

spark discontent

Shifts the focus to discontent as the emotion being generated.

sow seeds of discord

Employs a metaphor to describe the act of causing resentment.

give rise to animosity

A more verbose alternative, still conveying the same meaning.

stir up ill will

Uses more descriptive language to express the creation of negative feelings.

incite animosity

Implies a more active and intentional creation of animosity.

FAQs

How can I use "breed resentment" in a sentence?

You can use "breed resentment" to describe situations or actions that cause negative feelings. For example: "The company's new policies "breed resentment" among employees."

What are some alternatives to saying "breed resentment"?

Alternatives include "engender resentment", "foster resentment", or "create resentment", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "breeding resentment"?

Yes, "breeding resentment" is the present participle form and can be used in continuous tenses. For instance: "Their constant criticism is "breeding resentment" in the team."

What's the difference between "breed resentment" and "grow resentment"?

"Breed resentment" implies causing or creating resentment, while "grow resentment" suggests that the feeling is already present and intensifying over time. The first one is a consequence, the second one is an evolution.