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grudge

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun grudge differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of grudge are ill will, malevolence, malice, malignity, spite, and spleen. While all these words mean "the desire to see another experience pain, injury, or distress," grudge implies a harbored feeling of resentment or ill will that seeks satisfaction.

never one to harbor a grudge

When is it sensible to use ill will instead of grudge?

The words ill will and grudge can be used in similar contexts, but ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration.

ill will provoked by a careless remark

When could malevolence be used to replace grudge?

Although the words malevolence and grudge have much in common, malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct.

a look of dark malevolence

When might malice be a better fit than grudge?

While the synonyms malice and grudge are close in meaning, malice implies a deep-seated often unexplainable desire to see another suffer.

felt no malice toward their former enemies

When is malignity a more appropriate choice than grudge?

The words malignity and grudge are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness.

a life consumed by motiveless malignity

In what contexts can spite take the place of grudge?

In some situations, the words spite and grudge are roughly equivalent. However, spite implies petty feelings of envy and resentment that are often expressed in small harassments.

petty insults inspired by spite

When can spleen be used instead of grudge?

The meanings of spleen and grudge largely overlap; however, spleen suggests the wrathful release of latent spite or persistent malice.

venting his spleen against politicians

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grudge
Noun
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
Verb
Yet the company rolled him straight from the WrestleMania stage into Backlash and a main-event grudge with 45-year-old Randy Orton, the only rival old enough to remember chain-wrestling him in the Ohio Valley. Oliver Bateman, The Washington Examiner, 30 May 2025 Although crows can hold grudges, this one seems to just be doing what comes naturally. Joan Morris, Mercury News, 27 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for grudge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grudge
Noun
  • None of that is his fault, but frustration built up in the fanbase and developed into resentment from a section.
    Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
  • Still, longtime fans had resigned themselves to watching grainy clips on YouTube, concluding that the resentment between the Gallaghers ran too deep to ever prompt a reunion.
    Paula Mejía, Vulture, 5 July 2025
Noun
  • In our experience we were met with outright hostility for our Christian beliefs.
    BJ, Denver Post, 3 July 2025
  • But these weaknesses stem largely from underfunding and political hostility – not from any intrinsic flaw in the model.
    Sumit Agarwal, The Conversation, 3 July 2025
Verb
  • And Trump has disliked what he’s heard about a proposal that senators like Hawley and Tillis say will cost their states dearly.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 26 June 2025
  • The dads, Brads and Chads who dislike Swift made their negative thoughts known in the comments, but the one that really mattered came from Kelce.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • Another familiar image of American grievances, an engraving of the 1770 Boston Massacre, predates the conflict by five years.
    Karin Wulf, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 July 2025
  • In late 2010, two people complained to the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman, which handles grievances related to IFC projects, about water pollution, soil pollution and foul smells from the Santo Domingo facilities.
    Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • It's been very difficult to see just how much of this hatred has been normalized.
    Leila Fadel, NPR, 1 July 2025
  • Period drama enthusiasts will be interested to know that Wright set the movie in the late-18th century instead of the early-19th century in part because of his hatred of empire waist dresses.
    Lia Beck, EW.com, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Prioritizing TikTok Shop's growth could motivate ByteDance to back down from refusing to sell the app, but ultimately, China would still need to sign off, Trump has said.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 7 July 2025
  • Glover refused, and Pierce told her to turn around as she was being arrested.
    Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • But the company denies claims that its equipment sparked the 2019 fire, which tore through Sylmar, Porter Ranch and Granada Hills — all suburbs of Los Angeles — burning 8,799 acres.
    Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
  • To many in the transgender community, the policy also felt like another attack by the current administration to erase them from public spaces and deny their existence.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • The brief feud came on the heels of the tragic news that Master P's daughter Tytyana had died of an accidental fentanyl overdose in May 2022.
    Janine Rubenstein, People.com, 4 July 2025
  • After putting an end to their yearslong feud, Liam and brother Noel Gallagher have gotten the band back together for a global tour, kicking off Friday with a show at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
    Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 3 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grudge. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

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