grudging

[gruhj-ing]

adjective

1. displaying or reflecting reluctance or unwillingness.

   grudging acceptance of the victory of an opponent.

Other Word Forms

• grudgingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of grudging¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English; grudge, -ing ²

Example Sentences

The roots of his grudging acceptance of what I and millions of others consider to be one of cuisine’s most divine unions of dairy and pasta is highly regional in its basis.

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There were even the requisite quotes from political opponents offering grudging respect.

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But there was a sense, a grudging willingness among these Labour voters to give Sir Keir and the government more time.

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I had been making predictable salads — kale, romaine, a grudging nod to cabbage — and the book, which catalogs more than forty varieties of greens, seemed like the sort of thing that might inspire transformation.

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They butt heads, but, wild guess, they’ll come to form a grudging mutual respect.

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Related Words

• afraid 
• averse 
• cautious 
• circumspect 
• hesitant 
• loath 
• shy 
• slow 
• squeamish 
• uncertain 
• wary