as in careful
said, done, or given in an unwilling or doubtful way
Her theories have begun to win grudging acceptance in the scientific community. He has earned the grudging admiration/respect of his rivals.
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Recent Examples of grudging
Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025
In Spielberg’s hands, Jaws was a lot more than a terrifying great white shark; the characters of Quint, Hooper and Brody are indelible, their grudging camaraderie bolstered by the film’s centerpiece: the chilling tale of the USS Indianapolis.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 20 May 2025
Among his old Mount Vernon crew, there is a grudging acceptance of their diminished role in the legend.
—Ben Sisario, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Their odd-couple pairing became a magnificent slow burn of hatred into grudging respect into genuine affection, making for a tantalizing will-they-won't-they.
—Tyler Aquilina, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grudging
Verb
Looking back eight decades later, Truman's decision deserves not condemnation but a tragic and grudging gratitude.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025
In Spielberg’s hands, Jaws was a lot more than a terrifying great white shark; the characters of Quint, Hooper and Brody are indelible, their grudging camaraderie bolstered by the film’s centerpiece: the chilling tale of the USS Indianapolis.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 20 May 2025
Among his old Mount Vernon crew, there is a grudging acceptance of their diminished role in the legend.
—Ben Sisario, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
Their odd-couple pairing became a magnificent slow burn of hatred into grudging respect into genuine affection, making for a tantalizing will-they-won't-they.
—Tyler Aquilina, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grudging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grudging
Adjective
-
Rather, the Penguins will be very careful with both of their teenagers.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
And to find or develop a future CEO takes careful planning and grooming, considering today’s massive disruptions like tariff impacts and the expansive growth of AI.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Clearly, the Times cannot be punished either for disliking him or for trying to defeat him.—
Stephen L. Carter,
Mercury News,
19 Sep. 2025
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Clearly, the Times cannot be punished either for disliking him or for trying to defeat him.—
Stephen L. Carter,
Twin Cities,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
And Villanelle has very begrudging respect for this woman.—
Dan Snierson,
EW.com,
13 Apr. 2020
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Philadelphia needs its rookie quarterback, Carson Wentz, to post 300 passing yards for a third consecutive week, because there is no running the ball against the Ravens, who have the most begrudging ground defense in the league.—
DAVID WHITE,
New York Times,
16 Dec. 2016
Verb
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The poll also found 52% of all voters disapproving of his handling of immigration, including 75% of Hispanic voters.—
Benjamin Siegel,
ABC News,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Among independents, his approval stood at 66 percent, with only 20 percent disapproving—a key advantage in one of the nation’s most competitive swing states.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Professional teeth whitening services can cost hundreds of dollars, but an at-home remedy that’s both effective and economical can be a solid alternative.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Oct. 2025
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Ink-tank printers looked poised to become the better, more economical choice for the future of printing.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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One person was arrested after blocking the roadway and refusing to move their vehicle, Lee said, adding that the person was later transported for medical reasons but remains subject to arrest.—
Stephanie Murray,
AZCentral.com,
18 Oct. 2025
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In August 2023, the airline apologized to two passengers who were escorted off a plane after refusing to sit in a soiled seat.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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For most players, that amount of storage is realistically enough for all but the most covetous data hoarders.—
Matt Kamen,
Wired News,
3 Aug. 2025
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This is, in part, correct: Voldemort is extremely covetous of power.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 June 2025
Adjective
-
What to Know For Dedication Night, a family member or close friend will join each celebrity for their dedication dance.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The Andromeda Galaxy The Andromeda Galaxy lies almost directly overhead in the hours surrounding midnight on October nights, presenting a perfect opportunity to observe the Milky Way's closest neighbor without the atmospheric interference that comes from being close to the horizon.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grudging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grudging. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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