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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

Examples of grudge in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Detectives conducting interviews learned a personal grudge was most likely involved, Bonner said. Phil Helsel, NBC News, 26 Sep. 2024 Fresh out of Arkham Asylum, Sofia is nursing a grudge against the male associates who put her there in an attempt to keep this smart, competent woman from ascending to her rightful place at the head of the family. Judy Berman, TIME, 19 Sep. 2024
Verb
The Taliban authorities vacillated between grudging accommodation and weary rejection of our attention, but Ross had an uncanny ability to connect. Victor Blue, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2023 There is a clear sense of direction, almost a narrative sensibility, in the five tracks’ grudging progression from darkness to something approaching light. Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 28 Aug. 2023 See all Example Sentences for grudge 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grudge
Noun
  • Despite their sharp policy differences, both parties are responding to American workers’ resentment and frustration with decades of feeling left behind by the modern economy.
    Maria Flynn, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
  • Elliot Page translates vitality and promise as the young teen, while a blood-freezing Catherine Keener is the sinister embodiment of resentment and cruelty.
    Declan Gallagher and Chris Bellamy, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Political discussions at work can often lead to unproductive outcomes, fostering division and hostility among colleagues.
    Jason Walker, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
  • Qassem remained in his role when Nasrallah became leader, and has long been one of Hezbollah's leading spokesmen, conducting interviews with foreign media, including while cross-border hostilities with Israel raged over the last year.
    Reuters, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Many people dislike the early darkness that follows the end of daylight saving time.
    Kari Leibowitz, TIME, 22 Oct. 2024
  • There’s a running joke that Doc Rivers dislikes playing young players, but at 25 years old, AJ Green may have outgrown that label.
    Brian Sampson, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Muniz yelled before airing grievances about his spoiled debut.
    Sean Neumann, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024
  • Groundwater depletion in the Willcox Basin is among the most severe in the state, with nearly three times more water extraction than replenishment, and a long list of grievances from local well owners.
    Clara Migoya, The Arizona Republic, 24 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • At the same time, there is still an intense hatred among many entities surrounding Israel that want to see its demise.
    Karl Vick, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024
  • People like that fill me with violent hostility and even hatred.
    Yukio Mishima, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Zoom in: Harris and her staff have refused to detail her position on more than a dozen of her previous stances the past three months in response to questions by Axios.
    Alex Thompson, Axios, 3 Nov. 2024
  • Bader Ginsburg, who was one of the most liberal Supreme Court justices, refused to retire during eight years of the Obama presidency.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Martin Short and Meryl Streep have been denying romance rumors for close to a year, but there's no denying the chemistry between their Only Murders in the Building characters — so much so that one of the minds behind the show is now weighing in.
    Julia Moore, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024
  • His attorneys asked for bail again several weeks later and were again denied by an appeals court judge.
    Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • But what is certain is that Owens is benefitting from his heel turn and his intense feud with Orton.
    Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
  • Gina tells Tamra she was hurt when Tamra tried to throw her under a figurative red double-decker bus in London, collateral damage in Tamra’s current feud with Shannon.
    Peter Larsen, Orange County Register, 1 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near grudge

Cite this Entry

“Grudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grudge. Accessed 6 Nov. 2024.

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