Jealousy is one of those feelings that sneaks in when you least expect it—it’s a mix of wanting something someone else has and feeling a little left out in the process. Whether it’s a friend’s shiny new toy, someone’s achievements, or just the way they glow in a moment, jealousy can creep in and leave you swirling in emotions that are hard to put into words. That’s where similes come in handy. Similes help compare feelings like jealousy to things we all recognize, using the words “like” or “as.” These comparisons help us understand and describe our emotions in more colorful, relatable ways.
In this post, we’ll walk through 57 similes for jealousy, each carefully written with a clear meaning, a strong example sentence, and other creative ways to express the same feeling. By the end, you’ll have a full collection of language tools to describe jealousy—whether you’re writing a story, sharing your feelings, or just want to understand emotions better.
Similes for Jealousy
1. Jealous as a cat watching a bird
Meaning: Deeply envious and focused on what someone else has.
In a Sentence: She sat across the room, her eyes locked on the sparkly necklace her sister was wearing, looking as jealous as a cat watching a bird just out of reach.
Other Ways to Say: Green with envy, Filled with longing
2. Jealous as a shadow at noon
Meaning: Quiet but hard to ignore, even if not openly expressed.
In a Sentence: His jealousy wasn’t loud or dramatic, but it was definitely there, clinging to him like a shadow at noon—small, tight, and impossible to hide completely.
Other Ways to Say: Silent envy, Barely noticeable but still present
3. Jealous as a sibling on Christmas morning
Meaning: Clearly envious of someone else’s joy or good fortune.
In a Sentence: He watched his younger brother tear through piles of gifts, sitting still and staring with eyes as jealous as a sibling on Christmas morning who didn’t get what they asked for.
Other Ways to Say: Burning with envy, Bitter disappointment
4. Jealous as a hungry dog seeing a steak
Meaning: Overwhelmed with desire for something unattainable.
In a Sentence: She looked at her friend’s perfect project, biting her lip and tapping her pen, jealous as a hungry dog seeing a steak just out of reach behind the glass.
Other Ways to Say: Starving for success, Craving attention
5. Jealous as a bee outside the window
Meaning: Wanting to be part of something but locked out.
In a Sentence: He hovered near the door while his classmates laughed inside the room, jealous as a bee outside the window, desperate to get in but unable to join the buzz.
Other Ways to Say: Left out, Longing from afar
6. Jealous as a storm cloud at a picnic
Meaning: Out of place in a joyful setting, overshadowed by negative emotion.
In a Sentence: As everyone shared jokes and played games in the sun, she sat off to the side with a tight frown, jealous as a storm cloud at a picnic that threatened to ruin the fun.
Other Ways to Say: Raining on the parade, Mood spoiler
7. Jealous as a runner who finished second
Meaning: Close to victory but aching over someone else’s win.
In a Sentence: He shook the winner’s hand, his smile forced and eyes burning, jealous as a runner who finished second by just one step and had to watch the trophy go to someone else.
Other Ways to Say: Almost-there bitterness, Quiet frustration
8. Jealous as salt in sweet tea
Meaning: A bitter emotion in a place where it doesn’t belong.
In a Sentence: Her sarcastic comment slipped out mid-celebration, tasting jealous as salt in sweet tea—sharp, awkward, and impossible to ignore.
Other Ways to Say: Bitterness in joy, Unwanted negativity
9. Jealous as a wilted flower in a garden of blooms
Meaning: Feeling dull or overlooked while others shine brightly.
In a Sentence: She sat on the edge of the group photo, barely smiling and shrinking into herself, jealous as a wilted flower in a garden full of proud, blooming petals.
Other Ways to Say: Faded in the background, Overshadowed by brightness
10. Jealous as a ghost at a family dinner
Meaning: Feeling unseen and envious of others being noticed and included.
In a Sentence: As her relatives chatted and passed dishes across the table without glancing her way, she sat in silence, jealous as a ghost at a family dinner, invisible in a room full of warmth.
Other Ways to Say: Forgotten and longing, Present but ignored
11. Jealous as a candle in the sunlight
Meaning: Feeling small and insignificant next to someone who is shining.
In a Sentence: He stood next to his talented friend during the awards ceremony, feeling jealous as a candle in the sunlight—dimmed, quiet, and nearly invisible.
Other Ways to Say: Overpowered, Fading in comparison
12. Jealous as a turtle watching birds fly
Meaning: Wishing you had a freedom or ability someone else enjoys.
In a Sentence: She watched her classmates leave for the field trip while she stayed behind, jealous as a turtle watching birds fly overhead with no way to join them.
Other Ways to Say: Trapped envy, Yearning for wings
13. Jealous as a locked door in an open hallway
Meaning: Feeling excluded when everyone else is welcome.
In a Sentence: As others flowed into the event, he lingered in the back, jealous as a locked door in an open hallway—shut out and painfully aware of it.
Other Ways to Say: Not part of the group, Isolated by envy
14. Jealous as an actor missing their cue
Meaning: Feeling left behind when others are in the spotlight.
In a Sentence: She watched from the wings as her classmate took center stage, jealous as an actor missing their cue, knowing the applause wasn’t meant for her.
Other Ways to Say: Outshined, Skipped over
15. Jealous as a raindrop watching the sun
Meaning: Feeling like the opposite of someone else’s bright and happy moment.
In a Sentence: He sulked in the corner while his friend celebrated, jealous as a raindrop watching the sun beam down on everyone else.
Other Ways to Say: Dim with envy, Shadowed emotion
16. Jealous as a flat balloon at a birthday party
Meaning: Feeling deflated and left out among excitement.
In a Sentence: She sat quietly with her arms crossed, jealous as a flat balloon at a birthday party where everyone else was soaring with laughter.
Other Ways to Say: Unnoticed, Emotionally drained
17. Jealous as a snail at a cheetah race
Meaning: Feeling far behind and unable to keep up with others’ success.
In a Sentence: He watched his peers get awards and scholarships, jealous as a snail at a cheetah race—slow, stuck, and wondering why he couldn’t catch up.
Other Ways to Say: Lagging behind, Feeling inadequate
18. Jealous as a snowflake in summer
Meaning: Out of place and quickly fading among joy and warmth.
In a Sentence: His mood melted away in the group’s joy, jealous as a snowflake in summer, unable to hold on to his place in the celebration.
Other Ways to Say: Melting with envy, Quickly forgotten
19. Jealous as a whisper in a shouting match
Meaning: Feeling unheard while others grab attention.
In a Sentence: She tried to join the conversation but was drowned out, jealous as a whisper in a shouting match, her voice swallowed by louder ones.
Other Ways to Say: Silenced by comparison, Muted feelings
20. Jealous as a shadow behind a spotlight
Meaning: Living in someone else’s glow while being overlooked.
In a Sentence: He clapped politely from the sidelines, jealous as a shadow behind a spotlight that always shone on his best friend.
Other Ways to Say: In the background, Envy in silence
21. Jealous as a dry sponge in a rainstorm
Meaning: Wanting something badly while being denied it.
In a Sentence: She watched opportunity pour down on everyone but her, jealous as a dry sponge in a rainstorm, thirsty for even one drop.
Other Ways to Say: Deprived, Longing for a chance
22. Jealous as a blank canvas in a gallery
Meaning: Feeling unfulfilled among others who have already achieved or shown greatness.
In a Sentence: He walked through the art exhibit, jealous as a blank canvas in a gallery full of masterpieces, wishing he had something to offer.
Other Ways to Say: Empty with longing, Comparing to greatness
23. Jealous as a closed book on a shelf
Meaning: Feeling like no one is interested in your story while others are being noticed.
In a Sentence: She scrolled through her friends’ glowing posts, jealous as a closed book on a shelf—ignored and untouched while others were celebrated.
Other Ways to Say: Forgotten story, Hidden envy
24. Jealous as a bird with clipped wings
Meaning: Wishing to fly and be free like someone else but being held back.
In a Sentence: He watched her travel the world while he stayed home, jealous as a bird with clipped wings who could only dream of flying.
Other Ways to Say: Envy of freedom, Grounded and longing
25. Jealous as a firefly in the daytime
Meaning: Feeling unseen when others are shining.
In a Sentence: Her talent was ignored at the show, and she sat there, jealous as a firefly in the daytime, glowing but not being noticed.
Other Ways to Say: Overlooked spark, Hidden brilliance
26. Jealous as a cold cup of tea
Meaning: Feeling left out, overlooked, and no longer wanted.
In a Sentence: She listened to her friends make exciting weekend plans without her, feeling jealous as a cold cup of tea—uninvited, unnoticed, and forgotten.
Other Ways to Say: Feeling discarded, Cooled down with envy
27. Jealous as a wilted leaf in spring
Meaning: Feeling lifeless while others are full of energy and joy.
In a Sentence: He watched the celebration bloom around him, jealous as a wilted leaf in spring, unable to match their joy no matter how hard he tried.
Other Ways to Say: Emotionally drained, Fading in fresh happiness
28. Jealous as a cracked mirror
Meaning: Seeing a broken version of yourself compared to someone else’s perfection.
In a Sentence: She looked at her reflection after scrolling through flawless selfies, jealous as a cracked mirror trying to reflect beauty it didn’t believe it had.
Other Ways to Say: Damaged confidence, Envious reflection
29. Jealous as a faded star in the morning sky
Meaning: Feeling outshined and no longer special.
In a Sentence: After losing the lead role, he faded into the background, jealous as a faded star in the morning sky—once bright, now barely seen.
Other Ways to Say: Past glory, Dimmed by others
30. Jealous as a cactus in a rainforest
Meaning: Feeling out of place and less nurtured than others.
In a Sentence: She stood among her popular classmates, jealous as a cactus in a rainforest—dry, spiky, and longing for attention.
Other Ways to Say: Starved for care, Misfit envy
31. Jealous as a bench watching people dance
Meaning: Watching others enjoy life while feeling stuck and motionless.
In a Sentence: He stood still at the edge of the party, jealous as a bench watching people dance, wishing he had the courage to step forward and join in.
Other Ways to Say: Feeling left out, Watching from the sidelines
32. Jealous as a dry leaf in the rain
Meaning: Craving attention and connection but feeling left out.
In a Sentence: She listened to their laughter from across the room, jealous as a dry leaf in the rain, thirsting for that warmth but never getting soaked in it.
Other Ways to Say: Isolated in emotion, Longing to belong
33. Jealous as a forgotten gift
Meaning: Feeling unnoticed while others are celebrated.
In a Sentence: He sat quietly as others were praised, jealous as a forgotten gift tucked behind the couch, waiting to be seen but never opened.
Other Ways to Say: Unappreciated, Overlooked
34. Jealous as a puddle watching the ocean
Meaning: Feeling small next to someone who seems grand or powerful.
In a Sentence: She compared herself to the star athlete, jealous as a puddle watching the ocean—wishing she had that depth and presence.
Other Ways to Say: Feeling insignificant, Dwarfed by greatness
35. Jealous as a dusty trophy on a shelf
Meaning: Feeling like your own success has been forgotten while others shine.
In a Sentence: He looked at his old awards while his brother brought home new ones, jealous as a dusty trophy on a shelf that no one looked at anymore.
Other Ways to Say: Yesterday’s pride, Forgotten glory
36. Jealous as a penguin in the desert
Meaning: Feeling totally out of place when others seem to thrive.
In a Sentence: Surrounded by people who fit in perfectly, she felt jealous as a penguin in the desert—uncomfortable, different, and craving her own space.
Other Ways to Say: Out of your element, Yearning for comfort
37. Jealous as a flickering light in a neon city
Meaning: Feeling dull and unnoticed in a crowd of brightness.
In a Sentence: He watched others command attention on stage, jealous as a flickering light in a neon city that couldn’t hold anyone’s gaze for long.
Other Ways to Say: Dimmed presence, Lost in the crowd
38. Jealous as a note left unread
Meaning: Wanting to be acknowledged but continually ignored.
In a Sentence: She stared at her sent message with no reply, jealous as a note left unread, hoping for attention that never came.
Other Ways to Say: Craving a response, Overlooked emotion
39. Jealous as a fish in a dry bowl
Meaning: Feeling like you’re missing something essential while others flourish.
In a Sentence: He listened to the stories of travel and adventure, jealous as a fish in a dry bowl, gasping for the excitement he never had.
Other Ways to Say: Emotionally dried out, Wanting more
40. Jealous as a tree in winter watching spring
Meaning: Feeling barren while others are blooming and thriving.
In a Sentence: She scrolled through photos of sunny beaches, jealous as a tree in winter watching spring arrive somewhere far away.
Other Ways to Say: Waiting to grow, Withering in comparison
41. Jealous as a candle at a fireworks show
Meaning: Feeling dull and unimpressive next to a grand display.
In a Sentence: His quiet talents were unnoticed, and he sat there jealous as a candle at a fireworks show—steady but forgotten.
Other Ways to Say: Outshined, Subtle envy
42. Jealous as a spare part in a running engine
Meaning: Feeling unnecessary while others are thriving.
In a Sentence: During the group project, she was left out of all the decisions, jealous as a spare part in a running engine that no one needed.
Other Ways to Say: Left behind, Excluded and unneeded
43. Jealous as a star on a cloudy night
Meaning: Feeling hidden when you want to shine.
In a Sentence: He waited for his moment but never got it, jealous as a star on a cloudy night, completely covered up by someone else’s moment.
Other Ways to Say: Obscured, Longing for light
44. Jealous as a student with no gold star
Meaning: Feeling left out of recognition and praise.
In a Sentence: She peeked at the sticker chart, jealous as a student with no gold star while everyone else’s row sparkled.
Other Ways to Say: Recognition envy, Craving attention
45. Jealous as a backup singer
Meaning: Always in the background while someone else takes the lead.
In a Sentence: He sang the harmony but craved the melody, jealous as a backup singer at a soloist’s concert.
Other Ways to Say: Shadowed, Secondary and envious
46. Jealous as a paper plane watching a jet
Meaning: Wishing for strength, speed, or success you can’t reach.
In a Sentence: She looked at the scholarship winner and sighed, jealous as a paper plane watching a jet zoom by overhead.
Other Ways to Say: Light but limited, Unable to keep up
47. Jealous as a teardrop in a storm
Meaning: Feeling invisible in the chaos of other people’s emotions.
In a Sentence: Surrounded by louder, more obvious drama, she sat still and quiet, jealous as a teardrop in a storm, hoping someone would notice her pain too.
Other Ways to Say: Emotionally small, Drowned out
48. Jealous as a silent phone in a noisy room
Meaning: Feeling ignored while everyone else is receiving attention.
In a Sentence: She sat at lunch watching her friends’ phones light up with messages, jealous as a silent phone in a noisy room that never rang.
Other Ways to Say: Left out of the loop, Forgotten in the crowd
49. Jealous as a moth looking at a flame
Meaning: Deeply drawn to something you can’t touch or have.
In a Sentence: He watched her from across the room, jealous as a moth looking at a flame—wanting to be close but knowing it would only burn.
Other Ways to Say: Drawn to danger, Desiring what you can’t reach
50. Jealous as a substitute teacher on graduation day
Meaning: Feeling like you don’t belong during someone else’s big moment.
In a Sentence: She stood in the back row, jealous as a substitute teacher on graduation day—present but not really a part of the memory.
Other Ways to Say: Uninvited, Quiet outsider
51. Jealous as a snowman in spring
Meaning: Watching your world melt while others move forward.
In a Sentence: He watched the group grow and change without him, jealous as a snowman in spring, slowly realizing he wasn’t needed anymore.
Other Ways to Say: Fading away, No longer relevant
52. Jealous as a wallflower at a dance
Meaning: Feeling shy and envious while others enjoy the spotlight.
In a Sentence: She leaned against the wall, arms folded, jealous as a wallflower at a dance watching her crush twirl someone else around the floor.
Other Ways to Say: Hoping to be chosen, Watching love from afar
53. Jealous as a note left out of the song
Meaning: Feeling like something essential but unacknowledged.
In a Sentence: He watched his teammates huddle and plan, jealous as a note left out of the song, knowing he could add value if only they let him.
Other Ways to Say: Overlooked potential, Silently important
54. Jealous as a dried-up well
Meaning: Feeling empty and unable to offer what others can.
In a Sentence: Surrounded by people overflowing with ideas and joy, she sat there jealous as a dried-up well—once useful, now dry and forgotten.
Other Ways to Say: Emotionally drained, Out of place
55. Jealous as a curtain closed on opening night
Meaning: Feeling blocked from the very moment you’ve longed for.
In a Sentence: He peeked through the wings at the packed crowd, jealous as a curtain closed on opening night—so close to the stage, yet unable to perform.
Other Ways to Say: Missed the moment, Shut out
56. Jealous as a key that doesn’t fit
Meaning: Feeling useless or wrong when you want to be included.
In a Sentence: As the group clicked together effortlessly, he stood on the outside, jealous as a key that doesn’t fit, wishing he could unlock that same bond.
Other Ways to Say: Misfit, Feeling out of place
57. Jealous as a faded photo on the wall
Meaning: Once important, now passed over while others are celebrated.
In a Sentence: She walked past the old family photo and sighed, jealous as a faded photo on the wall—once cherished, now just background noise to newer memories.
Other Ways to Say: Yesterday’s favorite, Forgotten in the present
Practical Exercise
Fill in the blanks:
- I watched them all cheer and dance, feeling jealous as a _______ on a sunny day.
- She didn’t get picked for the play and sat down jealous as a _______ in a music hall.
- After seeing their family vacation photos, I felt jealous as a _______ in the desert.
- He didn’t make the team and was jealous as a _______ at a sports banquet.
- She saw the birthday cake being sliced and looked jealous as a _______ without a plate.
- I waited all day for a reply, jealous as a _______ in a forgotten inbox.
- When they announced the winner, I clapped with a smile but felt jealous as a _______ behind the curtain.
- She stood in line behind her friends, jealous as a _______ in a race it never started.
- He listened to the applause and felt jealous as a _______ in a quiet room.
- I saw them hugging, and I felt jealous as a _______ on the outside looking in.
Answers
shadow, bench, penguin, trophy, guest, message, spotlight, snail, candle, ghost
Conclusion
Similes give us powerful ways to describe jealousy—an emotion we all feel but sometimes struggle to explain. With these 57 vivid comparisons, you can better express your feelings in writing, stories, or conversations. Jealousy doesn’t have to be bottled up; it can be painted with words like a picture. Whether you feel like a bird with clipped wings or a candle in a firework show, now you have the language to say it out loud. Keep these similes in your writing toolbox—and next time jealousy creeps in, you’ll know just how to describe it.