jealously

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "jealously" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action done with jealousy or in a jealous manner. Example: "She watched her friend’s success jealously, wishing it were her own."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I grew up on lentils and cheaper cuts of meat, while jealously eyeing my friends' turkey dinosaurs and spaghetti hoops.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Our ambition, from the first day of our involvement in Minnesota professional soccer, has always been to build one of the greatest clubs in North America and to jealously guard our position as the pinnacle of professional soccer in our market," Nick Rogers, club president of Minnesota United, told the Guardian this month.

The Guardian - Sport

"Our ambition, from the first day of our involvement in Minnesota professional soccer, has always been to build one of the greatest clubs in North America and to jealously guard our position as the pinnacle of professional soccer in our market," Nick Rogers, club president of Minnesota United, said.

The Guardian - Sport

Other city regions looked on jealously.

The Guardian

But while sharing customer information makes sense, payroll and financial information tend to be more jealously guarded, and bosses tend to be reluctant to outsource the storage and processing of it.

The Economist

Testing the various algorithms, your risk-averse, youngish correspondent was steered towards an apparently sensible blend of low-fee funds to help his meagre retirement pot grow.This sort of insight used to be guarded jealously by financial advisers, but now you can get it from the robo-advisers without so much as providing an e-mail address.

The Economist

Some would like to see an end to state-funded Catholic schools, which Catholics guard jealously.

The Economist

The merged group's bosses have had to adjust to jealously guarded editorial independence.

The Economist

In France, for example, the division between the state-funded, mass-market universities and the grandes écoles is vast and jealously guarded.

The Economist

In a union of sovereign countries, prerogatives in foreign affairs are jealously guarded.

The Economist

Thanks to the party's jealously guarded monopoly of power, the only other forces now capable of exerting their interests collectively are generally undesirable: criminal gangs, clans and the self-interested rich.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more specific synonyms like "enviously" or "covetously" if the focus is more on the feeling of envy rather than the act of guarding something.

Common error

Avoid using "jealously" when the context only requires expressing envy. "Jealously" often implies a sense of possessiveness and active guarding, while simple envy might only involve a feeling of discontent over another's success.

Linguistic Context

The word "jealously" primarily functions as an adverb, modifying verbs to describe the manner in which an action is performed. It often implies a sense of possessiveness, protectiveness, or envy, as evidenced by Ludwig examples where it modifies verbs like "guarding" or "eyeing."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "jealously" functions as an adverb to describe actions performed with envy and protectiveness. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use across various contexts. While it shares similarities with synonyms like "enviously" and "covetously", it uniquely emphasizes the act of guarding or protecting something due to that underlying envy. As an adverb with neutral formality, "jealously" is suitable for various writing styles, predominantly appearing in news and media. The most common pitfall is using it when simple envy is intended, overlooking its strong implication of possessiveness and guarding. Therefore, understanding the specific context and nuance is crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enviously

This is a direct synonym, replacing "jealously" with another adverb that conveys the same meaning.

in a jealous manner

This is a more descriptive way of saying "jealously", using a prepositional phrase.

covetously

This alternative emphasizes the desire to possess what someone else has, similar to jealousy.

with envy

This alternative replaces the adverb "jealously" with a prepositional phrase to describe the feeling of envy.

possessively

This alternative highlights the aspect of wanting to exclusively own or control something, akin to guarding something jealously.

with resentment

This highlights the bitter indignation that can arise from jealousy.

with guarded protectiveness

This phrase expands on the idea of "jealously guarding", specifying the manner of protection.

with fierce protectiveness

Emphasizes the intensity and determination in protecting something, echoing the possessive nature of jealousy.

with suspicion

This alternative focuses on the distrustful aspect that can accompany jealousy.

with vigilance

This suggests a careful and alert protectiveness, often associated with guarding something jealously.

FAQs

How can I use "jealously" in a sentence?

"Jealously" is typically used as an adverb to describe how an action is performed, often involving guarding or protecting something. For example, "She watched her rival "jealously", guarding her own position carefully."

What are some synonyms for "jealously"?

Synonyms for "jealously" include "enviously", "covetously", and possessively, each carrying slightly different connotations.

Is it always negative to act "jealously"?

While "jealously" often carries a negative connotation, it can also describe a strong protectiveness that isn't necessarily malicious. The context usually determines the tone.

What's the difference between "enviously" and "jealously"?

"Enviously" primarily focuses on the feeling of discontent over someone else's advantages, while "jealously" implies both envy and a desire to protect or possess something, even to the point of guarding it carefully. "Jealously" also suggests fear of losing something you value.