GRUDGING Synonyms: 138 Similar and Opposite Words

grudging 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of grudging

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.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

grudging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of grudge

as in disliking

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 grudging

Adjective

Lanterns stars Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan, Earth’s one and only Green Lantern, and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, his understudy and grudging trainee. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Syrskyi, some noted with grudging respect, has built a string of defenses that have stalled Russian advances. — ABC News, 21 July 2026 In any case, the Biden Administration’s grudging acquiescence now looks like the beginning of a pattern of credulous capitulation. — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 And yet even some of Hanania’s most passionate detractors admit some grudging appreciation. — Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for grudging

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grudging

Adjective

Full-scale, 10-foot Hulk standins helped actors and camera crews judge his dimensions on set, and even his pants required careful attention.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Turning a field into a recognizable maze requires specialized planning and careful execution.

— Alexa Liacko, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of careful

Verb

Lorne Michaels took a liking to him (while disliking his predecessor) and took him under his wing, valuing his creative sense by asking for his feedback on writer packages and taking him to auditions.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026
For Pillsbury, the issue seems to be less about disliking the name itself and more about seeing the same joke repeated online.

— Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of disliking

Adjective

With Ancelotti on the sideline, there may be more begrudging acceptance of that this time.

— Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
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

Definition of begrudging

Verb

Martinez and Ishibashi play McConaughey and Harrelson’s real-life spouses like easily exasperated sitcom spouses, half disapproving wet blankets and half the only sane people in their respective families.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
Rubio, meanwhile, came out of the deal with positive reviews from the pro-Israel crowd, who viewed his silence as disapproving of the concessions made in the deal.

— Joseph Strauss, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026

Definition of disapproving

Adjective

Conceived with an advanced hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system, the vessel has a range of approximately 6,500 nautical miles at an economical cruising speed of 12 knots.

— Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026
This is so economical and an effective supplement to love declarations.

— Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of economical

Adjective

Starring Elordi and Barry Keoghan, Fennell’s dark comedy about class resentment and covetous destruction was sold on the promise of erotic excess.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Feb. 2026
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

Definition of covetous

Verb

In March 2022, 141 countries supported a resolution deploring Russian aggression and demanding that Russia withdraw its forces.

— Lidia Pilecky, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Regardless of the level of material damage, Shiites are deploring the physical and spiritual assaults against their sacred landscape.

— Mary Thurlkill, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026

Definition of deploring

Browse Nearby Words

grudges

grudging

grudgingly

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Grudging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grudging. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of grudging

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fervid

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes