noun
- a psychological state of repressed feelings of envy and hatred that cannot be acted upon, leading to a sense of powerlessness, pain and ill will
Usage: philosophical term; from French
Examples
- The philosopher Nietzsche wrote extensively about ressentiment in his critique of morality.
- Her ressentiment toward the wealthy grew from years of economic struggle.
- The concept of ressentiment helps explain certain forms of social and political anger.
- His ressentiment was evident in his constant criticism of those more successful than him.
- The novel explores themes of ressentiment among the working class.
- Ressentiment differs from simple anger because it involves a sense of powerlessness to change one’s situation.