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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

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
One of the brothers still holds a decades-long grudge against the other, and Hal’s estranged teenage son Petey (Colin O’Brien) also finds himself in the middle of a family legacy colored by carnage, but the narrative starts to feel like its beside the point. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2025 That should wrap the case, but there’s one bit of business left, and that involves Kasie taking Davis to her lab to help unravel why Winston would hold such a grudge against Davis. Sara Netzley, EW.com, 11 Feb. 2025
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
  • From a psychological perspective, Saunders-Waldron highlighted how repeatedly ignoring someone's boundaries can breed resentment and emotional fatigue which can explain the woman's stance.
    William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Fueled by years of resentment, Dante targets Dom’s family and closest friends, forcing the crew to scatter across the globe in a desperate bid to survive.
    Travis Bean, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The Russian foreign policy establishment always speculated that Europe would be most likely to eventually seek rapprochement with Moscow, while U.S. hostility to Russia was thought to be hard-wired.
    Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Guy Pearce is an antagonistic delight wielding passive-aggressive hostility as the main character’s benefactor, and Felicity Jones, as the architect’s loyal wife, is the heart of the piece who steps up when her spouse can’t.
    Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The industry disliked the wage increase but loathed the challenge to the franchise system and responded with a referendum to overturn the law.
    Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2025
  • So many people love him and so many people really dislike him.
    Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Worse still, the new tech might become a lightning rod for various unrelated grievances in the company.
    Claus Jepsen, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
  • To those points and like other major pro leagues, the NBA requires that teams resolve their grievances against one another in a private arbitration forum overseen by the commissioner.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Democrats, blinded by their hatred of him, have ignored this.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Debra Messing, who has produced a new documentary on (horseshoe-theory) antisemitism called October 8, has been one of Hollywood’s few intensely admirable exceptions, calling out anti-Jewish hatred with a fierce constancy over the past 16 months.
    Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In hearings at the Constitutional Court, which is deliberating whether to formally remove Mr. Yoon from office, both Lieutenant General Lee and Lieutenant General Yeo refused to discuss details of their roles for fear that their testimony would be used against them during their own criminal trials.
    Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2025
  • In response, the woman not only refused to bake a cake this year but also skipped the party altogether.
    William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Their findings paint a more complicated picture, one that her mother has denied.
    Brian Brant, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Many criticized his decision as a capitulation to Donald Trump, though Bezos denied those claims.
    Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The Red Bull team principal was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing, but the feud between the two resurfaced at the end of June, when Jos accused Horner of preventing him from driving in the Legends' Parade at the Austrian Grand Prix.
    Dan Cancian, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Dozens of titles followed, and Predator 2 even slipped a Xenomorph skull into the Predator's trophy to tease the feud.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grudge. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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