grudge 1 of 2

noun

Definition of grudgenext
1
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

Relevance
2
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 the absence of their grudging leader and brightest light exposed differences both fresh and latent, and greed and ego frayed their alliances. —Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 22 July 2024 But when the chance for revenge on Alexus comes, Raina is forced to let her grudge fall to the wayside to prevent her sister — and the entire empire — from being claimed by a bigger enemy. —Alyssa Davis, Vulture, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
Clyde’s decades-long grudge against Harlan is not to be dismissed. —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 19 June 2025 And that is not to say that sometimes that anger wasn’t righteous, and sometimes those grudges weren’t deserved. —Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for grudge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grudge
  1. resentment
  2. hostility
  3. dislike
  4. grievance
  5. hatred
  6. refuse
  7. deny
  8. feud
Noun
  • Your job should challenge you—not drain you to the point of resentment.
    — Sherry Taylor, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
  • Bing had complained of harassment and left behind a manifesto filled with resentment.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2025
Definition of resentment
Noun
  • Without an end to hostilities, no humanitarian corridor can function safely, Palestinian civilians cannot be reached at scale and the hostages will not return home.
    — David Miliband, Time, 29 July 2025
  • The largest synagogue in Judaism’s Reconstructionist movement is moving to cut ties with its denominational body over what its leaders describe as a failure to confront hostility to Israel among affiliated rabbis and rabbinical students.
    — Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 28 July 2025
Definition of hostility
Verb
  • As producers of The Fugitive and its Big Pharma bogeyman could tell you, a good conspiracy is made even better when it can be aimed at someone or some group already disliked.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 19 July 2025
  • But the share of people who dislike BOTH parties is only 17%.
    — Craig Gilbert, jsonline.com, 18 July 2025
Definition of dislike
Noun
  • After their move to California, the couple began to air their grievances in interviews and documentaries.
    — Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2025
  • Other factions have taken the opportunity to air their own grievances, including left-wing complaints that von der Leyen’s center-right group is too close to the far right, particularly on environmental rules.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 10 July 2025
Definition of grievance
Noun
  • Many were subjected to many forms of hatred spawned from these misunderstandings.
    — Meredith Kile, People.com, 21 July 2025
  • Despite his extensive progressive bona fides, Wertham’s hatred of the comics medium has forever branded him a right-wing zealot in the minds of comic fans.
    — Vasilis K. Pozios, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2025
Definition of hatred
Verb
  • The ad has been slammed by some online as a Nazi-like pro-eugenics racist propaganda, while others have cheered the company and actress for refusing to apologize in the wake of social media outrage, which many view as a bad-faith take on something that’s meant to be playful.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2025
  • Yet, despite urgent calls to evacuate, numerous passengers fumble with overhead compartments, refusing to leave their carry-ons behind.
    — Darlin Tillery, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 July 2025
Definition of refuse
Verb
  • Yet for decades, tens of thousands of children in Hasidic yeshivas have been systematically denied access to that promise.
    — Adina Mermelstein Konikoff, New York Daily News, 22 July 2025
  • When Nguyen refused the search and denied the allegation, one deputy allegedly called him a liar and threatened to arrest him.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 22 July 2025
Definition of deny
Noun
  • Such occasional breakfasts among Abbott, Patrick and Phelan were discontinued last session as the speaker-lieutenant governor feud spilled into public view.
    — John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
  • With Bayley, Valkyria and Lynch all pursuing the same title in a never-ending vortex of feuds and matches, the best finish at WWE SummerSlam is for Bayley to cost Valkyria the match and turn heel in the process.
    — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
Definition of feud

Browse Nearby Words

grubstaking
grudge
grudged
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grudge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grudge. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on grudge

Nglish: Translation of grudge for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
iykyk if you know you know slang written in a neon
Quiz: Abbreviation Station TFW you have to figure out what 15 abbreviations ...
See All