as in grudging
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as in resenting
to have a resentful awareness of and desire for (another's possessions or advantages) or to feel resentment toward (someone) over possessions or advantages
I don't begrudge you your success—you earned it
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Recent Examples of begrudging
Dan Snierson, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2020
Philadelphia needs its rookie quarterback, Carson Wentz, to post 300 passing yards for a third consecutive week, because there is no running the ball against the Ravens, who have the most begrudging ground defense in the league.
—David White, New York Times, 16 Dec. 2016
Big Think, 6 Apr. 2026
And no one is begrudging McAvoy and Swayman’s savoring the victory.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
At the film’s center is Seyo Kim (Chen Emilie Yan), a meek state lawyer looking to make a difference, but who accepts, with begrudging sighs, her department’s 80% rate of dropping hate crime prosecutions as just another part of the job.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 23 Feb. 2026
Joseph says their first customer came in, begrudging the $35 ribeye, only to order the soup.
—Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 11 Feb. 2026
While closures are a reoccurring feature of life in Big Sur — routinely forcing begrudging drivers to detour inland on Highway 101 or even the 5 Freeway — this was the longest stretch of time in recent history that travel along Highway 1 had remained truncated in some way.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
But consider it from the perspective of the begrudging founder of a progressive rock institution who would settle for nothing less than total reinvention with each record.
—Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 11 Jan. 2026
This helps make the world and characters feel even richer, giving you some vital looks into the relationships between key characters — like fleshing out the begrudging respect the ruthless mercenary Gafgarion feels for Ramza.
—Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
It was already understood by then that, as part of the NCAA’s begrudging acceptance of athletes earning endorsement income, schools would be required to collect their players’ NIL contracts.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
And Villanelle has very begrudging respect for this woman.
—Dan Snierson, EW.com, 13 Apr. 2020
Philadelphia needs its rookie quarterback, Carson Wentz, to post 300 passing yards for a third consecutive week, because there is no running the ball against the Ravens, who have the most begrudging ground defense in the league.
—David White, New York Times, 16 Dec. 2016
Verb
His theory might receive only begrudging mention in psychology textbooks, but it is used, directly and indirectly, in classrooms worldwide.
—Big Think, 6 Apr. 2026
And no one is begrudging McAvoy and Swayman’s savoring the victory.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
At the film’s center is Seyo Kim (Chen Emilie Yan), a meek state lawyer looking to make a difference, but who accepts, with begrudging sighs, her department’s 80% rate of dropping hate crime prosecutions as just another part of the job.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 23 Feb. 2026
Joseph says their first customer came in, begrudging the $35 ribeye, only to order the soup.
—Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 11 Feb. 2026
While closures are a reoccurring feature of life in Big Sur — routinely forcing begrudging drivers to detour inland on Highway 101 or even the 5 Freeway — this was the longest stretch of time in recent history that travel along Highway 1 had remained truncated in some way.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
But consider it from the perspective of the begrudging founder of a progressive rock institution who would settle for nothing less than total reinvention with each record.
—Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 11 Jan. 2026
This helps make the world and characters feel even richer, giving you some vital looks into the relationships between key characters — like fleshing out the begrudging respect the ruthless mercenary Gafgarion feels for Ramza.
—Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
It was already understood by then that, as part of the NCAA’s begrudging acceptance of athletes earning endorsement income, schools would be required to collect their players’ NIL contracts.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for begrudging
Adjective
-
One former Treasury official recalled agonizing discussions about precedent in an earlier administration, and said he’s developed a grudging respect for Bessent’s approach.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
30 Mar. 2026
-
On the contrary, what shines through is an admiration — generous in some quarters, a little more grudging in others — for their resilience, their set-piece prowess and for the other qualities that have carried Arteta and his team this far.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Each character has totally justified and totally unjustified reasons for resenting one another, and the sensation of absorbing those contrasting opinions is like being in a stuck bumper car, barraged and battered from all sides.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2026
-
At the time, many people who had previously toiled in the fields shifted to working long shifts in cramped, and often dangerous manufacturing and textile facilities while increasingly resenting the industrialists who owned the factories.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Bell is a revelation as the nebbish, envious and conflictedly aroused Niall — a desperate man hiding from others and himself.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Hathaway proved why People chose her for the cover of its World’s Most Beautiful issue, wearing a Louis Vuitton dress in a color of red that would make the devil himself envious.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Begrudging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/begrudging. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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