hold a resentment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hold a resentment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing feelings of bitterness or anger towards someone due to a perceived wrong or injustice. Example: "Despite their attempts to reconcile, she continued to hold a resentment towards him for the way he treated her in the past."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

And nothing seems to please Scott more than to jab at the Boston Celtics; he still holds a deep resentment against them from his playing days with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The New York Times - Sports

He had a hard life, but he didn't hold any resentment".

The Guardian - Music

"I don't hold any resentment to those coaches, or the medical staff, they were following the protocol.

BBC

Argentina went on to lift the Cup, beating West Germany 3-2; England went on to nurse a resentment they hold to this day.

The Guardian - Sport

He also holds a deep personal resentment toward the warden, Father Sebastian Morell, and the class and privilege that he represents -- Father Sebastian is a descendant of bishops and married into the gentry.

The New York Times - Books

One thing we saw is that Mr. Healy is constantly looking for love and has felt rejected, and holds a lot of resentment toward women because of this.

Huffington Post

When asked if he held any resentment toward Christopher Robin, Winnie replied, "No.

Huffington Post

When I asked him if he held any resentment toward his brothers for this, he simply said that the money doesn't matter.

Huffington Post

I had held a lot of negative energy and resentment, my own and my mom's, toward this lovely place.

Huffington Post

Healthy love also learns to forgive and move forward, in the realization that harboring resentment is like holding a hot coal of anger you are the only one who gets burned.

WikiHow

There is a great lesson here for those of us who do tend to hold onto resentment from past hurtful experiences, be them five minutes or five years ago.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hold a resentment", consider the intensity and duration of the feeling you want to convey. Alternative phrases may be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance.

Common error

Avoid using "hold a resentment" when you mean to express regret. Resentment implies anger and bitterness toward someone, while regret focuses on your own feelings about a past action or inaction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hold a resentment" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of maintaining feelings of anger, bitterness, or ill will towards someone or something. It suggests an ongoing state of negative emotion.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Encyclopedias

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Wiki

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hold a resentment" is grammatically correct and serves to describe the act of maintaining feelings of anger or bitterness towards someone or something. While currently exhibiting a rare frequency, according to Ludwig, it is understandable that the phrase is not currently frequently used, being the expression of a rare case that is still grammatically correct. The sources found on the web show that it is more common to "harbor" than "hold" a resentment. Related phrases, such as "harbor resentment" or "bear a grudge", offer similar but nuanced ways to express this sentiment. When writing, it's important to consider whether "resentment" is the accurate emotion. Remember, the nuances of language allow you to convey precise feelings, and choosing the right phrase can significantly impact your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harbor resentment

Implies a sustained and often secret holding of resentment.

nurse a grievance

Suggests tending to and prolonging a feeling of resentment or injustice.

bear a grudge

Focuses on maintaining a long-lasting feeling of ill will.

carry a resentment

Emphasizes the burden of holding onto resentment.

cling to resentment

Highlights the difficulty in letting go of resentful feelings.

nurture a grudge

Suggests actively fostering and maintaining feelings of resentment.

foster ill will

Focuses on the active creation and maintenance of negative feelings.

maintain animosity

Highlights the sustained existence of hostile feelings.

nurture bitterness

Emphasizes the fostering of deep-seated feelings of resentment and discontent.

harbor animosity

Implies secretly holding hostile feelings.

FAQs

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

You can use "hold a resentment" to express feelings of bitterness or anger towards someone due to a perceived wrong or injustice. For instance, "Despite their attempts to reconcile, she continued to hold a resentment towards him."

What are some alternatives to "hold a resentment"?

You can use alternatives like "harbor resentment", "bear a grudge", or "nurse a grievance" depending on the context.

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

Both "hold a resentment" and "harbor a resentment" are correct. "Harbor" often implies a more secretive or prolonged feeling of resentment.

What's the difference between "hold a resentment" and "hold a grudge"?

While similar, "hold a resentment" generally refers to a specific feeling of bitterness, whereas "hold a grudge" suggests a more enduring and potentially less justifiable feeling of ill will.