grudging
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of grudging
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English; see grudge, -ing 2
Explanation
If you do something in a grudging manner (or grudgingly), you do it with reluctance. Doing homework, paying taxes, and saying sorry are all commonly done in a grudging manner. "Grudging apology" and "grudging acceptance" are probably the two most common uses of this word, which perhaps says something about our lack of grace as a species. The word derives from the medieval French word groucher, meaning "to murmur or mumble." A related word is grudge, meaning a long-lasting sense of ill will dating to a previous incident.
Vocabulary lists containing grudging
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The strikes have drawn grudging recognition from Russian military analysts.
From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026
But while the earlier work describes a futurist dystopia, “Glyph” takes place in present-day England, where the siblings Petra and Patricia Wild have reconnected after decades of grudging silence.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
Sir John Wolfenden, whose 1957 inquiry concluded that sex between men should be decriminalised, was a committed Anglican, and his recommendation was couched in grudging terms.
From BBC • Dec. 24, 2025
I don’t know if the government’s grudging confession of error played a role in the full court’s decision.
From Slate • Oct. 31, 2025
When I called the rabbi of my mother’s old synagogue he spoke to me with neither nostalgia nor surprise, only grudging recognition.
From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
