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
John Hopewell, Variety, 9 Mar. 2026
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
Noun
Their secrets, grudges, and desires haven’ changes one iota.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 9 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grudges
Noun
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And the loss seemed to unleash some hidden resentments, some wolves that had been biding their time deep in the woods but were now baying at the door.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2026
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On my part, coming into it, something that became more and more important was that Santos is not left to hold these resentments alone.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The source adds that Woods prefers to keep his life private and dislikes negative attention.—
Andrew McCarty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
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Casar’s story touched on a subject close to Sanders’s heart, and not only because the senator dislikes it when billionaires get sweetheart deals.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The Invention of the ‘Stewart-Brunson Fracture’ Stewart didn’t just come to air grievances.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
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The 28-year-old’s frustrations came to the fore again after the Red Bull driver finished eighth at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, venting his grievances to the media after the race.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Insurance bad faith claims can stem from different factors, including when an insurance company refuses to settle a claim within policy limits and therefore risks exposing its client to a larger liability at trial.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
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Like the impish anti-romance that crumbles around it, the movie’s twist is both transgressive enough to be pleased with itself and also rooted in a reality that refuses to be dismissed as a bad joke.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grudges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grudges. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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