envious of him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "envious of him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing feelings of jealousy or resentment towards someone else's possessions, qualities, or achievements. Example: "She was envious of him for winning the award that she had worked so hard for."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

I was envious of him.

The New York Times - Magazine

Or is he, in fact, envious of him?

The New Yorker

He adds, "I was so envious of him".

The New York Times

"I'm not going to lie — I'm a little envious of him," Pettitte said.

The New York Times - Sports

I'm not so much envious of him as murderously jealous – he stole the life I was supposed to have.

The Guardian - Money

I tell him a friend of mine who works at the BBC told me that many journalists were envious of him.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

And yes, I'm envious of them.

The Guardian

Her academic supervisors are envious of her advantage.

The New York Times - Tech

Anderson would hardly be human if a little of him were not envious of Broad's newly exalted status.

Independent

But instead Ripley, envious of Dickie's lifestyle, kills him and assumes his identity.

The Guardian - Film

Pentecostal pastors in Ghana, perhaps envious of his success, regularly challenge him to spiritual battles to prove who possesses greater powers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the intensity of the emotion you want to convey. Alternatives like "jealous" or "resentful" can express stronger negative feelings, while "admiring" suggests a more positive perspective.

Common error

Avoid using "envious of him" as a vague descriptor without specifying the reason for the envy. Saying "I'm envious of him" without context can leave the reader unclear about the specific qualities or circumstances you admire or desire.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "envious of him" functions as a predicative adjective phrase. It describes a state of feeling envy towards a male individual. The Examples provided by Ludwig show its use in expressing feelings of resentment or longing for someone else's attributes or achievements.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "envious of him" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase for expressing feelings of envy towards a male individual. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While not the most common expression, it appears across various contexts, especially in news and media sources. When using this phrase, be specific about the cause of envy to provide clarity. Alternatives like "jealous of him" or "resentful of him" can convey similar but slightly different nuances. This expression is useful in expressing feelings of longing towards another person's achievements or characteristics.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

jealous of him

Replaces "envious" with "jealous", indicating a similar feeling of resentment towards someone else's advantages.

resentful of him

Uses "resentful" instead of "envious", suggesting a stronger feeling of bitterness about someone else's good fortune.

covetous of him

Employs "covetous", implying a desire to possess what he has.

admiring of him

Replaces "envious" with "admiring", shifting the focus to positive appreciation rather than negative resentment.

wishing I had his

Expresses the desire for something he possesses, focusing on the personal longing.

desiring his qualities

Highlights the specific qualities or attributes that are envied, rather than a general feeling.

longing for what he has

Emphasizes the feeling of longing and desire for something he owns or experiences.

yearning for his success

Specifically targets the success of the individual, expressing a desire to achieve similar results.

craving his lifestyle

Focuses on his way of life and the desire to have the same experiences and privileges.

impressed by his achievements

Shifts the perspective to a more objective assessment of his accomplishments, minimizing the element of jealousy.

FAQs

What does it mean to be "envious of him"?

To be "envious of him" means to feel a resentful longing triggered by someone else's possessions, qualities, or achievements. It implies a desire to have what he has.

How do I use "envious of him" in a sentence?

You can use "envious of him" to express feelings of jealousy or admiration for someone else's attributes. For example, "She was "envious of him" for winning the award that she had worked so hard for."

What are some alternatives to "envious of him"?

You can use alternatives like "jealous of him", "resentful of him", or "admiring of him" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "envious of him" and "jealous of him"?

"Envious of him" generally refers to wanting what someone else has, while "jealous of him" often implies a fear of losing something you already have, such as affection or status, to someone else.