harbor resentment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "harbor resentment" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to a situation in which someone keeps negative feelings of hostility or bitterness toward someone else. For example: After such a long period of being isolated from his family, he started to harbor resentment towards them.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

"Mexicans, we don't harbor resentment.

The New York Times

And she said she "didn't harbor resentment toward the boys who attacked me".

The New York Times

There's also the possibility that his family may still harbor resentment toward you for breaking their son's heart, even if it was five years ago.

The New York Times

Camby used to harbor resentment because the former coach Jeff Van Gundy did not play him enough early in his Knick career.

The New York Times - Sports

MANY Canadians harbor resentment toward the enormous shadow cast by the United States on topics from beer to hockey to vowel sounds.

The New York Times

Asked by reporters today how he would win over McCain supporters who might harbor resentment from the primary, Mr. Bush spoke of his own credentials as a reformer while ridiculing Mr. Gore's ethics.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

Others left their clubs under bad circumstances and harbor resentments.

The New York Times - Sports

I have better things to do than harbor resentments and brood over petty jealousies and slights.

The New York Times - Food

Both are products of their own elites — Mr. Bush from the old East Coast establishment, Ms. Rice from Southern black professionals — who are supremely self-confident on the surface but harbor resentments underneath.

The New York Times

Mr. Bratton, who said he wanted to keep certain aspects of the meeting private out of respect for Mr. Giuliani, said that he did not harbor resentments, and that he sensed a similar change in his former boss.

The New York Times

A 1996 Conference Board survey of companies with family-friendly programs found 56% of the companies acknowledging that childless employees harbor resentments against those with children.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about interpersonal conflicts, use "harbor resentment" to highlight the sustained and often unspoken nature of negative feelings. For example, "Despite their attempts to reconcile, he continued to "harbor resentment" over the past betrayal."

Common error

Avoid using "harbor resentment" when describing fleeting moments of anger or frustration. Resentment is a deeper, longer-lasting emotion. Instead, consider using phrases like "felt angry" or "expressed frustration" for temporary feelings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harbor resentment" functions as a verb phrase where "harbor" acts as a transitive verb taking "resentment" as its direct object. According to Ludwig, the phrase is considered correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Wiki

14%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "harbor resentment" is a commonly used and grammatically sound expression for describing the act of holding onto feelings of bitterness or ill will. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for use in a variety of contexts, although it appears most frequently in news and media sources. Related phrases like "hold a grudge" or "nurse a grievance" offer similar meanings, but with slightly different nuances. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure it accurately reflects a sustained emotional state, rather than fleeting anger. Overall, "harbor resentment" is a reliable way to convey the idea of internally holding onto negative feelings towards someone or something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold a grudge

Focuses on the act of maintaining a feeling of ill will or offense over time.

bear a grudge

Emphasizes the act of carrying or enduring a feeling of resentment.

nurse a grievance

Suggests carefully cultivating and maintaining a sense of injustice.

foster ill will

Highlights the process of actively encouraging or developing feelings of animosity.

hold bitterness

Focuses on the emotion of bitterness being retained.

cling to animosity

Implies a strong attachment to feelings of hostility.

nurture animosity

Describes the act of actively feeding and promoting hostile feelings.

cherish animosity

Indicates a surprisingly positive or sentimental attachment to negative feelings.

entertain resentment

Suggests giving consideration or thought to feelings of resentment.

maintain animosity

Stresses the act of preserving or keeping alive feelings of hostility.

FAQs

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

You can use "harbor resentment" to describe someone holding onto feelings of bitterness or ill-will. For example, "She continued to "harbor resentment" towards her former friend after their argument."

What are some alternatives to "harbor resentment"?

Alternatives include "hold a grudge", "bear a grudge", or "nurse a grievance", each emphasizing a slightly different aspect of holding onto negative feelings.

Is it better to say "harbor resentment" or "hold resentment"?

"Harbor resentment" is generally preferred as it suggests a more sustained and possibly concealed holding of negative feelings. "Hold resentment" is also acceptable, but less common.

What's the difference between "harbor resentment" and "express resentment"?

"Harbor resentment" implies keeping the feelings inside, while "express resentment" means showing or communicating those feelings to others. One is internal, the other is external.