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

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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While compliance with court orders has at times been grudging, the President and Congress have consistently respected Marbury in the end because it is part of the glue that holds the Constitution together.

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Related Words

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