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

So who could this grudge-holding mystery actress be? —Justin Curto, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025

Emotional players are fun because there is nothing greater than watching a contestant with a grudge ignore logic, reason, and strategy to exact that grudge at all costs. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 28 Nov. 2024

Noun

The daughter of the trickster god Anansi, Abena spent her entire life terrified that her dad would lose her in a bet, and still bears a grudge that the Doctor couldn't take her away. —Richard Edwards, Space.com, 10 May 2025

Football folk have memories that would impress elephants and a mafioso’s capacity for holding grudges. —Michael Walker, New York Times, 9 May 2025

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

Rhymes for grudge

• budge
• drudge
• frage
• fudge
• judge
• mudge
• nudge
• rudge
• sludge
• smudge
• trudge
• adjudge

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