as in resentments
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
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Recent Examples of grudges
Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
As far as grudges go, this one runs dangerously deep.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
This one-year penance business reeks of score-settling, petty grudges and arm-twisting.
—Steve Buckley, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Some can hold grudges for years.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 22 Jan. 2026
The move showcases House Republicans’ loyalty to the president and support for his political battles, as the vetoes had been seen as instances of Trump acting on political grudges.
—Sudiksha Kochi, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2026
Still, the Bulldogs’ defensive back doesn’t harbor any grudges toward Sanders, nor CU.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 4 Jan. 2026
The strength of the Republican appeal to isolationism is essentially one of political revenge, a feeling that now is the time to settle old scores and old grudges.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
And a rivalry richer with personal grudges.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 28 Nov. 2025
Noun
The Olympics that preached harmony finally united in a single city known for love, beauty and grudges.
—Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
As far as grudges go, this one runs dangerously deep.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
This one-year penance business reeks of score-settling, petty grudges and arm-twisting.
—Steve Buckley, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Some can hold grudges for years.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 22 Jan. 2026
The move showcases House Republicans’ loyalty to the president and support for his political battles, as the vetoes had been seen as instances of Trump acting on political grudges.
—Sudiksha Kochi, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2026
Still, the Bulldogs’ defensive back doesn’t harbor any grudges toward Sanders, nor CU.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 4 Jan. 2026
The strength of the Republican appeal to isolationism is essentially one of political revenge, a feeling that now is the time to settle old scores and old grudges.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
And a rivalry richer with personal grudges.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 28 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grudges
Noun
-
After more than a decade of bro-ing our resentments into demographics, the time has come to bury the construction, maybe forever.—
Dan Brooks,
The Atlantic,
26 Feb. 2026
-
This one asks us to release what the Leo Full Moon revealed is no longer sustainable, especially around power, control, emotional attachments, and unspoken resentments.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Langmuir showed that the molecules oriented themselves in a consistent way, looking like little tadpoles with the hydrophilic head, the end that likes water, toward the water, and the hydrophobic tail, the end that dislikes water, sticking up into the air.—
Natalia Sánchez Loayza,
Scientific American,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Sean Payton dislikes quite a few things.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Yet a right to petition means little if grievances are acknowledged but not meaningfully addressed.—
Brielle Miller,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Mar. 2026
-
In Send Help, now in theaters, Linda (Rachel McAdams) and her overbearing boss Bradley (Dylan O’Brien) survive a plane crash and become stranded on a deserted island, where their past office grievances become a violent fight for survival.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Cutting Through Rocks is an intimate portrait of Shahverdi's fight for women's rights in a patriarchal society that refuses to acknowledge their right to exist safely and independently.—
Davi Merchan,
NPR,
4 Mar. 2026
-
At the same time, his office refuses to answer questions about the probe.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grudges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grudges. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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