diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/doc/Equals.md b/pkg/yqlib/doc/Equals.md
index fda10922..6d2ebbdf 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/doc/Equals.md
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/doc/Equals.md
@@ -29,6 +29,24 @@ true
 false
 ```
 
+## Don't match string
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- cat
+- goat
+- dog
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq eval '.[] | (. != "*at")' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+false
+false
+true
+```
+
 ## Match number
 Given a sample.yml file of:
 ```yaml
@@ -47,6 +65,24 @@ true
 false
 ```
 
+## Dont match number
+Given a sample.yml file of:
+```yaml
+- 3
+- 4
+- 5
+```
+then
+```bash
+yq eval '.[] | (. != 4)' sample.yml
+```
+will output
+```yaml
+true
+false
+true
+```
+
 ## Match nulls
 Running
 ```bash
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/expression_tokeniser.go b/pkg/yqlib/expression_tokeniser.go
index a08bea50..5f589850 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/expression_tokeniser.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/expression_tokeniser.go
@@ -284,6 +284,7 @@ func initLexer() (*lex.Lexer, error) {
 	lexer.Add([]byte(`collect`), opToken(collectOpType))
 
 	lexer.Add([]byte(`\s*==\s*`), opToken(equalsOpType))
+	lexer.Add([]byte(`\s*!=\s*`), opToken(notEqualsOpType))
 	lexer.Add([]byte(`\s*=\s*`), assignOpToken(false))
 
 	lexer.Add([]byte(`del`), opToken(deleteChildOpType))
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/lib.go b/pkg/yqlib/lib.go
index d33ce8d3..0f253bff 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/lib.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/lib.go
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ var addOpType = &operationType{Type: "ADD", NumArgs: 2, Precedence: 42, Handler:
 var alternativeOpType = &operationType{Type: "ALTERNATIVE", NumArgs: 2, Precedence: 42, Handler: alternativeOperator}
 
 var equalsOpType = &operationType{Type: "EQUALS", NumArgs: 2, Precedence: 40, Handler: equalsOperator}
+var notEqualsOpType = &operationType{Type: "EQUALS", NumArgs: 2, Precedence: 40, Handler: notEqualsOperator}
 var createMapOpType = &operationType{Type: "CREATE_MAP", NumArgs: 2, Precedence: 40, Handler: createMapOperator}
 
 var shortPipeOpType = &operationType{Type: "SHORT_PIPE", NumArgs: 2, Precedence: 45, Handler: pipeOperator}
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_equals.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_equals.go
index 5c6d9596..2f444284 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_equals.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_equals.go
@@ -4,20 +4,30 @@ import "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 
 func equalsOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
 	log.Debugf("-- equalsOperation")
-	return crossFunction(d, context, expressionNode, isEquals)
+	return crossFunction(d, context, expressionNode, isEquals(false))
 }
 
-func isEquals(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, lhs *CandidateNode, rhs *CandidateNode) (*CandidateNode, error) {
-	value := false
+func isEquals(flip bool) func(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, lhs *CandidateNode, rhs *CandidateNode) (*CandidateNode, error) {
+	return func(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, lhs *CandidateNode, rhs *CandidateNode) (*CandidateNode, error) {
+		value := false
 
-	lhsNode := unwrapDoc(lhs.Node)
-	rhsNode := unwrapDoc(rhs.Node)
+		lhsNode := unwrapDoc(lhs.Node)
+		rhsNode := unwrapDoc(rhs.Node)
 
-	if lhsNode.Tag == "!!null" {
-		value = (rhsNode.Tag == "!!null")
-	} else if lhsNode.Kind == yaml.ScalarNode && rhsNode.Kind == yaml.ScalarNode {
-		value = matchKey(lhsNode.Value, rhsNode.Value)
+		if lhsNode.Tag == "!!null" {
+			value = (rhsNode.Tag == "!!null")
+		} else if lhsNode.Kind == yaml.ScalarNode && rhsNode.Kind == yaml.ScalarNode {
+			value = matchKey(lhsNode.Value, rhsNode.Value)
+		}
+		log.Debugf("%v == %v ? %v", NodeToString(lhs), NodeToString(rhs), value)
+		if flip {
+			value = !value
+		}
+		return createBooleanCandidate(lhs, value), nil
 	}
-	log.Debugf("%v == %v ? %v", NodeToString(lhs), NodeToString(rhs), value)
-	return createBooleanCandidate(lhs, value), nil
+}
+
+func notEqualsOperator(d *dataTreeNavigator, context Context, expressionNode *ExpressionNode) (Context, error) {
+	log.Debugf("-- equalsOperation")
+	return crossFunction(d, context, expressionNode, isEquals(true))
 }
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_equals_test.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_equals_test.go
index 822c031b..291d6916 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_equals_test.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_equals_test.go
@@ -31,7 +31,18 @@ var equalsOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 			"D0, P[1], (!!bool)::true\n",
 			"D0, P[2], (!!bool)::false\n",
 		},
-	}, {
+	},
+	{
+		description: "Don't match string",
+		document:    `[cat,goat,dog]`,
+		expression:  `.[] | (. != "*at")`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[0], (!!bool)::false\n",
+			"D0, P[1], (!!bool)::false\n",
+			"D0, P[2], (!!bool)::true\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
 		description: "Match number",
 		document:    `[3, 4, 5]`,
 		expression:  `.[] | (. == 4)`,
@@ -40,7 +51,18 @@ var equalsOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 			"D0, P[1], (!!bool)::true\n",
 			"D0, P[2], (!!bool)::false\n",
 		},
-	}, {
+	},
+	{
+		description: "Dont match number",
+		document:    `[3, 4, 5]`,
+		expression:  `.[] | (. != 4)`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[0], (!!bool)::true\n",
+			"D0, P[1], (!!bool)::false\n",
+			"D0, P[2], (!!bool)::true\n",
+		},
+	},
+	{
 		skipDoc:    true,
 		document:   `a: { cat: {b: apple, c: whatever}, pat: {b: banana} }`,
 		expression: `.a | (.[].b == "apple")`,