harbour resentment

USAGE SUMMARY

"harbour resentment" is correct and usable in written English.
It means to feel or have a grudge against someone or something. For example, "After being passed up for the promotion, he started to harbour resentment towards his colleagues who were chosen instead."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Many Koreans, especially the elderly, still harbour resentment against Japan for its colonial occupation.

The Guardian

But Jonah didn't want to do it, which I respect and still harbour resentment towards".

The Guardian - Film

The English neutral may still also harbour resentment about Frank Lampard's disallowed goal in the second-round match in 2010, when the ball bounced a barely-noticeable six-to-10 yards over the line.

Independent

Although some Russians silently harbour resentment over the domination of the country's political and public life by a new Kazakh elite, the potentially explosive relations between the two leading ethnic groups were defused two years ago with the passing of a language law: Kazakh was declared the state language and Russian the language of common use.But the harmony may not last.

The Economist

After watching The Light Between Oceans, I realized that by choosing to harbour resentment and enmity toward ( fill in the blank family, friends, a co-worker, an ex- partner) my heart hardens and I waste my energy focusing on my so- called loss.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But Pegida is a reminder that many, especially in eastern Germany, harbour resentments that can be exploited.

The Economist

There may be autobiographical matter embedded within the text of a novel which some critic may wish to tease out, but the issue is not usually central to our understanding or enjoyment of it.The poetry of Carol Ann Duffy has often consisted of monologues, poems spoken in the voices of the urban disaffected, people on the margins of society who harbour resentments and grudges against the world.

The Economist

On the other hand, anonymous review does not always stop authors harbouring resentment if their paper is rejected.

Nature

"Anna gave up so much for survival, but it's never felt like she harboured resentment," Cassidy says.

The Guardian

"There is a legacy of injustice, and that injustice harbours resentment," says Richard Bennett, the Asia-Pacific director of Amnesty International.Recently Kabul saw a flash of the resentment toward international troops at its fiercest.

The Economist

There's not a lot of event, at least not presented in such a way that it coheres into story: a boy harbours resentment against his imam father; another develops a crush on his teacher; a girl has an accident that, late in this sleepy film, suddenly makes your heart leap into your throat.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "harbour resentment" to depict a lingering, often suppressed, feeling of negativity. It's effective when describing a character's internal state or a long-standing historical grievance.

Common error

Don't use "harbour resentment" to describe momentary irritation or anger. This phrase implies a deep-seated, persistent negative emotion that has been held for a significant period.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "harbour resentment" is a verb phrase, where "harbour" acts as a transitive verb taking "resentment" as its direct object. This phrase describes the action of holding or maintaining feelings of resentment. Ludwig shows examples of it.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "harbour resentment" effectively conveys the holding of negative feelings, often in a suppressed manner. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English. It is more common in news and media contexts. When writing, consider the subtle distinction between suppressing and expressing resentment, and choose the phrasing that best reflects the intended meaning. While related phrases like "hold a grudge" exist, "harbour resentment" provides a specific nuance of internalized, lingering negativity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold a grudge

Focuses on maintaining a feeling of ill-will due to a past offense.

bear a grudge

Similar to "hold a grudge", but emphasizes the active carrying of the negative feeling.

nurse a grievance

Implies carefully maintaining and tending to a feeling of injustice.

hold bitterness

Highlights the intense, negative emotion of bitterness being retained.

foster animosity

Suggests actively encouraging and developing feelings of hostility.

cling to resentment

Emphasizes the act of persistently holding onto feelings of resentment.

maintain animosity

Focuses on keeping hostile feelings alive and present.

retain bitterness

Highlights the act of keeping feelings of bitterness.

nurture resentment

Implies actively feeding and growing feelings of resentment.

cherish ill feelings

Conveys the act of valuing and protecting negative emotions.

FAQs

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

"Harbour resentment" is used to describe the act of holding onto negative feelings towards someone or something. For instance, "After years of being overlooked, he began to harbour resentment towards his boss".

What are some synonyms for "harbour resentment"?

Alternatives to "harbour resentment" include "hold a grudge", "bear a grudge", or "nurse a grievance", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "harbor resentment" instead of "harbour resentment"?

Both "harbor resentment" and "harbour resentment" are correct. "Harbor" is the American English spelling, while "harbour" is the British English spelling. The choice depends on your target audience and writing style.

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

"Harbour resentment" means to hold onto and suppress feelings of resentment, while "express resentment" means to openly show or communicate those feelings. The former is internal, while the latter is external.