nurture resentment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "nurture resentment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of fostering or encouraging feelings of bitterness or anger over time. Example: "Holding onto past grievances can often lead to a mindset that nurtures resentment towards others."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Culture and religion-related anxieties can be exploited to nurture resentment, and this had to be avoided.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Throughout the developing world, tax evasion and the looting of resources to secret bank accounts has nurtured resentment, widespread unemployment, poor public services and a general lack of opportunity, Mr Christensen claimed.

The Guardian - Business

And according to brain chemistry studies, taking revenge and nurturing resentment is a major source of life-destroying stress.

Huffington Post

You can go on competing, comparing, nurturing resentments and becoming mean to others, but it will not stop them from getting what they're meant to have.

Huffington Post

By displacing traditional centres of power, development can nurture collective resentment.

The Guardian - Opinion

Whether it's ISIS or incels, extremists use the internet to target aggrieved men, nurture their resentment into hate, and urge them to act on that hate.

Huffington Post

But his struggle is also to encourage America to be more introspective, particularly in examining which of its foreign policies might nurture terrorists' resentments.

The New York Times

Many of its adherents are descendants of indigenous Indian people who have for centuries nurtured a resentment of the mestizo descendants of Spanish conquerors.

The New York Times

Ever since, many Vertriebene have nurtured a resentment that their suffering has never been fully recognised in contrast, so the unspoken argument runs, to the postwar Germany's atonement for the Holocaust.

The Guardian

Now he pours tea for pennies a glass, and he nurtures his resentments.

The New York Times

The haunting scene in which Alberich (the baritone Richard Paul Fink) appears in a vision to urge his son to keep "hating the joyful," nurturing his resentments and plotting revenge, seemed all too relevant at a time when so much of the world clings to ethnic and religious hatreds passed down through generations.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing societal issues, use "nurture resentment" to highlight how certain conditions can lead to prolonged feelings of bitterness within a community or group.

Common error

Avoid using "nurture resentment" when the situation involves simply experiencing resentment without any active or prolonged engagement with those feelings. Instead, reserve it for scenarios where resentment is being actively fostered or allowed to grow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "nurture resentment" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "nurture" acts as a transitive verb taking "resentment" as its direct object. This indicates an active process of fostering or promoting feelings of bitterness. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "nurture resentment" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes the act of fostering or allowing feelings of bitterness to grow. While not exceedingly common, it appears in reputable news sources, indicating a neutral register suitable for discussing societal or interpersonal dynamics. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and related phrases like "foster resentment" and "cultivate resentment" offer similar but nuanced meanings. It's crucial to use the phrase when active fostering is implied, distinguishing it from merely experiencing or "harboring resentment".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

foster resentment

Focuses on actively promoting resentment, similar to "nurture" but with a slightly stronger connotation of deliberate action.

cultivate resentment

Emphasizes a careful and sustained effort to develop resentment, implying a more insidious process.

encourage resentment

Directly suggests promoting resentment, often through external actions or influences.

harbor resentment

Highlights the act of holding onto or concealing resentment, rather than actively encouraging it.

inflame resentment

Indicates intensifying existing feelings of resentment, making them more volatile or extreme.

fuel resentment

Suggests adding to existing resentment, making it stronger or more intense.

stoke resentment

Suggests subtly fueling or aggravating resentment, often through indirect means.

breed resentment

Implies that resentment arises naturally from certain conditions or situations.

aggravate resentment

Focuses on worsening existing resentment, making it more pronounced or problematic.

fan the flames of resentment

Emphasizes the act of intensifying resentment, often with a sense of malicious intent.

FAQs

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

You can use "nurture resentment" to describe how certain actions or conditions can lead to the development and growth of bitter feelings. For example, "The politician's divisive rhetoric only served to nurture resentment among different segments of the population."

What are some alternatives to "nurture resentment"?

Alternatives include "foster resentment", "cultivate resentment", or "harbor resentment", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more common to say "nurture resentment" or "foster resentment"?

Both "nurture resentment" and "foster resentment" are valid, though the frequency may vary depending on the specific context and corpus analyzed. "Foster" might be slightly more common in general usage.

What is the difference between "nurture resentment" and "harbor resentment"?

"Nurture resentment" suggests an active process of encouraging or allowing resentment to grow, while "harbor resentment" implies suppressing or concealing feelings of resentment without necessarily promoting its growth.