The Difference Between Jealousy and Envy

Jealous-

1. (3) covetous, envious, jealous — (showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another’s advantages; “he was never covetous before he met her”; “jealous of his success and covetous of his possessions”; “envious of their art collection”)

2. (2) jealous, green-eyed, overjealous — (suspicious or unduly suspicious or fearful of being displaced by a rival; “a jealous lover”)

Envy-

1. (2) envy, enviousness — (a feeling of grudging admiration and desire to have something that is possessed by another)

2. envy, invidia — (spite and resentment at seeing the success of another (personified as one of the deadly sins))

1. (9) envy — (feel envious towards; admire enviously)

2. envy, begrudge — (be envious of; set one’s heart on)

Princeton Wordnet

I guess it’s all just interpretation. To me jealousy more of the last definition, jealousy is that nagging voice or that icky feeling that makes you think things are going on when they really aren’t.

~ by Lolli on July 3, 2009.