Sign In Get Started
Prepositions after adjectives

How to use resentful with prepositions

Resentful is most often followed by of, at, or over when describing bitterness or anger.

Quick answer

Common combinations

Use resentful of for the target of resentment, resentful at for a situation or action, and resentful over for a cause of dispute. Resentful towards is also possible for attitude toward a person.

She felt resentful of her supervisor.
He became resentful at the criticism.
They were resentful over the budget cuts.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
resentful of + person

Naming the object of resentment

Of commonly introduces the person or thing causing resentment.

He grew resentful of his colleague's success.
2
resentful at + event

Reacting to a specific action or situation

At often refers to something that triggered resentment.

She sounded resentful at the unfair decision.
3
resentful towards + person

Describing attitude toward someone

Towards focuses on direction of feeling toward a person or group.

The child became resentful towards his absent father.
4
resentful over + issue

Describing the cause of disagreement

Over commonly introduces the subject of conflict or complaint.

Residents were resentful over rising taxes.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
resentful of
She is resentful of her manager.
Most common for the object of resentment.
resentful about
He is resentful about the delay.
Possible when referring to a situation or topic.
resentful at
They were resentful at being ignored.
Focused on a specific action or treatment.
resentful towards
He felt resentful towards the committee.
Emphasises attitude directed at people.
resentful over
Workers were resentful over pay cuts.
Refers to the subject causing resentment.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using of with events

Of usually names a person or thing rather than an entire situation.

✕ She was resentful of being excluded. ✓ She was resentful at being excluded.

Using towards for topics

Towards normally refers to people or groups.

✕ They were resentful towards the policy changes. ✓ They were resentful about the policy changes.

Confusing over and of

Over introduces the issue causing resentment.

✕ Residents were resentful of higher taxes. ✓ Residents were resentful over higher taxes.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. He became resentful ___ the constant criticism.
2. Workers were resentful ___ the new contract terms.
3. She felt resentful ___ her older brother.

Check your sentence in context

Paste the complete sentence below. Linguix checks the preposition together with grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style.

Free to try · No signup required

Frequently asked questions

Is resentful of the most common pattern?

Yes. Resentful of is widely used for people or things that cause resentment.

Can I say resentful about something?

Yes. About is possible when discussing a situation or topic.

What is the difference between resentful at and resentful towards?

At focuses on a triggering action or event, while towards focuses on attitude directed at a person or group.

racist-in-against-for-to, towards "radical in" or "radical for"? rampant in, among, with, on or throughout? "rare in" or "rare for"? "rational for" or "rational in"? "raw in", "raw for" or "raw with"? reachable by, from, on, in or through? "reactive to", "reactive rather" or "reactive in"? ready for, to, in, at or by? "realistic about" or "realistic in"? "real to", "real for" or "real in"? rearing of, as or on?

Write with confidence in Linguix

Create a free account to check complete texts, apply suggestions, and save your documents.

Create a free account