Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

grudge

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of grudge

1 a lingering ill will towards a person for a real or imagined wrong

  • he's had a grudge against her ever since she snubbed him at the dance
Synonyms of grudge

down [chiefly British], grievance, resentment, score
Words Related to grudge

condemnation

offense (or offence), umbrage

complaint

dudgeon, huff, peeve, pique

despite, hatefulness, malevolence, malice, maliciousness, meanness, nastiness, spite, spitefulness, spleen, venom, viciousness

animosity, antagonism, antipathy, bitterness, enmity, hostility, rancor

2 a deep-seated ill will

  • thereʼs been a grudge between the two families for years
Synonyms of grudge

animosity, animus, antagonism, antipathy, bad blood, bitterness, enmity, gall, hostility, jaundice, rancor
Words Related to grudge

blood feud, feud, score, vendetta

hate, hatred, loathing

vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol

alienation, disaffection, estrangement

conflict, coolness, discord, friction, strain, tension

inhospitableness, unfriendliness

malice, malignancy, malignity, spite, spitefulness, venom
Near Antonyms of grudge

amiability, amicability, civility, cordiality, friendliness, hospitality, neighborliness

comity, empathy, friendship, goodwill, sympathy, understanding
Antonyms of grudge

amity

Synonym Discussion of 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

Learn More about grudge

  1. See words that rhyme with grudge Dictionary: Definition of grudge Spanish Central: Translation of grudge Nglish: Translation of grudge for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of grudge for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up grudge? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games