grudge

1 of 2

verb

ˈgrəj 

grudged; grudging

transitive verb

: to be unwilling to give or admit : give or allow reluctantly or resentfully

didn't grudge the time

grudger noun

grudge

2 of 2

noun

: a feeling of deep-seated resentment or ill will

held no grudge against those who mistreated him

Synonyms

Noun

• down [chiefly British]
• grievance
• resentment
• score

Choose the Right Synonym for grudge

malice, malevolence, ill will, spite, malignity, spleen, grudge mean the desire to see another experience pain, injury, or distress.

malice implies a deep-seated often unexplainable desire to see another suffer.

felt no malice toward their former enemies

malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct.

a look of dark malevolence

ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration.

ill will provoked by a careless remark

spite implies petty feelings of envy and resentment that are often expressed in small harassments.

petty insults inspired by spite

malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness.

a life consumed by motiveless malignity

spleen suggests the wrathful release of latent spite or persistent malice.

venting his spleen against politicians

grudge implies a harbored feeling of resentment or ill will that seeks satisfaction.

never one to harbor a grudge

Examples of grudge in a Sentence

Verb

I don't grudge paying my share.

I don't grudge her the opportunities she has been given.

Noun

She still has a grudge against him for the way he treated her in school.

He has nursed a grudge against his former boss for years.

I don't bear him any grudges.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But the absence of their grudging leader and brightest light exposed differences both fresh and latent, and greed and ego frayed their alliances. —Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 22 July 2024

But when the chance for revenge on Alexus comes, Raina is forced to let her grudge fall to the wayside to prevent her sister — and the entire empire — from being claimed by a bigger enemy. —Alyssa Davis, Vulture, 29 Mar. 2024

Noun

Ravens, magpies and even common urban crows have demonstrated impressive feats of intelligence, from using traffic lights to crack nuts to remembering human faces and even holding grudges. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024

Both are brazenly transactional, and cling tenaciously to grudges. —Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English grucchen, grudgen to grumble, complain, from Anglo-French grucer, grucher, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle High German grogezen to howl

Noun

derivative of grudge entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing grudge

• grudge match

Kids Definition

grudge

1 of 2 verb

ˈgrəj 

grudged; grudging

: begrudge

grudger noun

grudgingly

-iŋ-lē

adverb

grudge

2 of 2 noun

: a strong lasting feeling of resentment toward someone for a real or imagined wrong