Resentful OF, TO, ABOUT or TOWARDS? Which is the correct preposition?

Vocabulary / By

We use the preposition “of” with the adjective “resentful” when we want to show the thing that we feel unhappy about. There are other prepositions that we can use with “resentful” that change the meaning slightly.

Examples:

I am resentful of your money. 

I sometimes feel resentful of my partner.

There are no strict rules for prepositions with “resentful” so you can change the preposition according to the context.

Resentful Of

We usually use “of” with “resentful”. The phrase most often used in English is “to be resentful of”. We use the preposition “of” when we want to connect words. “Of” really just helps us to know what  it is that we are feeling bitterness about.

I am resentful of his talents.

Resentment/Resentful Towards

We often use “towards” with “resentment”. Notice that “resentment” is the noun form of  “resentful” and we use it to show the direction of our resentment. 

I sometimes feel resentful of my partner.

I hold some resentment towards my partner. 

Resentful About

People sometimes use “resentful about” but usually the correct preposition is “of”. We use the preposition “about” with verbs and adjectives when we want to introduce a topic.

I am resentful about my husband.

I am resentful of my husband.

Resentful To

“Resentful to” also has a similar meaning to “resentful towards” and you use it to show the direction of your feelings. “Resentful to” is not common in English and you should use “resentful of”

Final Thoughts

We use the preposition “of” with the adjective “resentful”. We use “towards” with the noun “resentment”.

Conor
Latest posts by Conor (see all)