GRUDGE Synonyms: 118 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

grudge 1 of 2

noun

Definition of grudge

as in resentment

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 & Similar Words

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as in hostility

a deep-seated ill will there's been a grudge between the two families for years

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grudge

2 of 2

verb

as in to dislike

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 whether William can continue holding a grudge against Harry with his brother geographically close to him again remains to be seen. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 21 Aug. 2026 Or maybe, as was the case with Ramirez, some grudges need more time to fade. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026

Verb

Bondi, in a memorandum also signed by Russell Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, blended grudging compliance with open disrespect. — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025 In previous books, the antipathy between the women was not subtle, although there does seem to be grudging respect in later interactions. — Maren Longbella, Boston Herald, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for grudge

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grudge

Noun

McBride, like all good satirists, cranks up the volume of those resentments and insecurities, in the process revealing a new way to see the world.

— T. M. Brown, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026
Clear information gives everyone a fair chance to ask questions and prevents resentment from filling in the missing details.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of resentment

Noun

Those moves come amid higher oil prices, with Brent crude futures hovering around $99 a barrel Tuesday amid escalating hostilities in the Middle East.

— Sarah Min,Hugh Leask, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026
Goldman's base case Goldman's forecast is based on an increase in hostilities in the Middle East.

— Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of hostility

Verb

Element had a deal to merge with Solstice Advanced Materials, but both shareholder bases disliked the idea, so the companies terminated it last week.

— Jim Cramer, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
Previous-generation Outbacks were functional but had an unfortunate tendency to look as though their infotainment system had been installed by somebody who strongly disliked both computers and human beings.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of dislike

Noun

The notion is that only those with a real stake in the dispute, not a generalized grievance, have the right to a hearing.

— Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
Food price spikes can also exacerbate grievances and lead to riots that destabilize governments; anger over hunger, for example, set the conditions for the Arab Spring protests.

— Anna Nelson, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of grievance

Noun

The defense kept prodding James to tell more about the Compton gang war, the hatred between both sides, what really happened on that night in Las Vegas.

— Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
His hatred of the Islamic State group appears genuine, and American cooperation with Damascus against the terrorist network will benefit the Syrians who suffered most under its rule.

— Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of hatred

Verb

The report said Evans first refused to give officers his name and then spit into one officer's face after being taken into custody.

— Dale Ellis, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
The prospect of Sean Steur or Lewis Hall — whose contract situation Wilson refused to be drawn on, despite being asked three times — leaving is not something which frightens the hierarchy.

— Chris Waugh, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of refuse

Noun

Instead, that generation’s gesture seems to be stymied or to miss its target and end in bitterness—which is precisely what gives these artists’ work at its best a poignancy on the other side of its aggression and humor.

— Barry Schwabsky, ARTnews.com, 8 Sep. 2026
This copper beauty serves up bold floral and citrus aromas, plus the signature IPA bitterness.

— Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of bitterness

Verb

The league also took a hard, public stance in the Brendan Sorsby situation by denying the former Texas Tech quarterback entry to the supplemental draft.

— Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the justice assigned to handle emergency petitions from Missouri, denied the emergency application, declining to elaborate on his decision.

— Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of deny

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grubstaking

grudge

grudged

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Style

“Grudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grudge. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of grudge

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