Resentment: quick facts
Resentment is a smouldering, often hidden form of anger that builds up over a perceived injustice or mistreatment. Unlike a sudden flash of anger, resentment lingers and recurs, fed by a sense of being wronged,…
Category
Complex & secondary emotions
Valence
Negative
Emotion family / blend
Anger
Typical triggers
Perceived unfairness, being slighted, unacknowledged effort, lingering grievances
How it's expressed
Tight mouth, cool tone, withdrawal, simmering displeasure beneath calm
Sources: American Psychological Association — APA Dictionary: emotion; Greater Good Science Center, UC Berkeley — Emotions; Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions (Robert Plutchik) — overview; American Psychological Association — Anger. Educational information only — not medical or psychological advice. See our sources & fact-check policy.