grudge 1 of 2

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
Alongside impossibly strong grannies, Dana must also contend with a dangerous prisoner now enjoying some posthumous freedom and a gun-toting drug dynasty with one almighty grudge. Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 10 June 2025 Just a man with a grudge using his television show to smear us instead of trying to understand us. Megan McCluskey, Time, 28 Apr. 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
  • Those who responded shared a variety of reasons for disliking the drone show.
    Mia Thurow, jsonline.com, 5 July 2025
  • My father dislikes firework shows, for all the reasons that a man who passed his youth squeezing a trigger in the name of God and country dislikes firework shows.
    Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 3 July 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
  • In both cases, as there was no misconduct, there were no apologies offered and no admission of guilt, in an effort to protect their reputations by refusing contrition for their journalism.
    Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 7 July 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • So with his conviction and prison stay, Larson was denied access.
    Savannah Leigh Richardson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
  • The Enquirer was denied these records on the grounds that complaints of educator misconduct that have resulted in an investigation are not deemed public until the board has taken final action on the case.
    Annie Goldman, The Enquirer, 10 July 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
  • But the former chair of the Jefferson County Republican Party and longtime member of the Republican Party of Kentucky's executive committee can't force the outspoken representative from Northern Kentucky, who's caught in an escalating feud with President Donald Trump, out of office.
    Lucas Aulbach, The Courier-Journal, 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 14 Jul. 2025.

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