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The English language has been carrying a grudge for a long time—since the 13th century to be exact, when it took the Anglo-French verb grucher/grucer and made it grucchen/grudgen. Both words meant “to grumble and complain” (and if their shared definition, combined with their spelling and pronunciation, reminds you of a certain furry green Muppet who lives in a trash can, you’re onto something: grouch is thought to be a grucchen descendant). Over time grucchen/grudgen became grudge, which picked up the additional, closely related meanings of “to be unwilling to give or allow” and “to allow with reluctance or resentment,” as when Virginia Woolf wrote “if you come to grudge even the sun for shining … fruit does not ripen.” Grudging, which developed from grudge, made its English debut in the 1530s, and has been used ever since to describe someone who is unwilling or reluctant (“a grudging supporter”) or something done or given reluctantly or sparingly (“grudging respect”).
Examples of grudging in a Sentence
Theresa McKinney, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Apr. 2024
Living in Appalachia comes with an awareness, and grudging tolerance, of some amount of pollution.
—E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2024
Who will bear the agony of being a grudging final selection?
—Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024
Yet as the years went on, a hybrid compromise was reached which, while creating grudging acceptance, didn’t necessarily thrill anyone.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024
Her approach drew grudging respect from some Republicans.
—Mitch Smith, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024
So the narrative is Elvis appealing to the host, to earn his grudging approval.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 9 Feb. 2024
But the difference between grudging and enthusiastic support could be significant.
—Maya King, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2024
The great Sam Neill and Deadpool 2's Julian Dennison make a team for the ages, as the unlikely fugitives dodge cops, social workers, trigger-happy hunters, and the occasional wild boar, all while Waititi parcels out the development of their inevitable, grudging bond with the deftest comic touch.
—Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 17 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'grudging.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near grudging
Cite this Entry
“Grudging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grudging. Accessed 10 May. 2024.
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