grudging

adjective

grudg·​ing ˈgrə-jiŋ 

1

: unwilling, reluctant

a grudging supporter of the reform movement

a grudging admirer

2

: done, given, or allowed unwillingly, reluctantly, or sparingly

grudging compliance

grudgingly adverb

Did you know?

In the 15th century, English jurist Sir John Fortescue observed, "Somme . . . obtayne gretter rewardis than thei have disserved, and yit grugge, seying they have [too] litill." Fortescue's grugge (an early spelling of the verb grudge) meant "to grumble and complain," just like its Middle English forerunner, grucchen, and the Anglo-French word grucer, which gave rise to the English forms. English speakers had adopted the "complain" sense of grudge by the late 13th century, and a century later they had added the extended sense "to give reluctantly." That second sense may have developed because people associated grudge with the related word begrudge (meaning "to give reluctantly," as in "I begrudged him a second chance.") Grudging, which developed from grudge, made its English debut in the 1530s.

Examples of grudging in a Sentence

Her theories have begun to win grudging acceptance in the scientific community.

He has earned the grudging admiration of his rivals.

Recent Examples on the Web

This grudging regard was evident last month, when Dugdale died in a Dublin nursing home at age 82. —Theresa McKinney, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Apr. 2024

Living in Appalachia comes with an awareness, and grudging tolerance, of some amount of pollution. —E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2024

Who will bear the agony of being a grudging final selection? —Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024

Yet as the years went on, a hybrid compromise was reached which, while creating grudging acceptance, didn’t necessarily thrill anyone. —Chloe Berger, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024

Her approach drew grudging respect from some Republicans. —Mitch Smith, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024

So the narrative is Elvis appealing to the host, to earn his grudging approval. —Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 9 Feb. 2024

But the difference between grudging and enthusiastic support could be significant. —Maya King, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2024

The great Sam Neill and Deadpool 2's Julian Dennison make a team for the ages, as the unlikely fugitives dodge cops, social workers, trigger-happy hunters, and the occasional wild boar, all while Waititi parcels out the development of their inevitable, grudging bond with the deftest comic touch. —Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 17 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of grudge entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1