Synonyms

grudgingly

American

[gruhj-ing-lee] / ˈgrʌdʒ ɪŋ li /

adverb

reluctantly or unwillingly; not generously or with a good will.

He tried to evade the work and the responsibility until the very last moment and then grudgingly, finally, exasperatingly did his job.

Etymology

Origin of grudgingly

grudging ( def. ) + -ly

Compare meaning

How does grudgingly compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

grudgingly vs. begrudgingly

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.

“Fine, I’ll help,” he said grudgingly, like he was doing her the favor.

From Literature

Sailors, Christopher knew, share the ship’s biscuits grudgingly; when they do, it means something.

From Literature

His hosts, the writer Robert Penn Warren and his wife, Eleanor, didn’t own a set but grudgingly suggested that he could walk next door.

From The Wall Street Journal

That could mean the biggest AI stocks won’t be afforded the luxury of patience that investors have grudgingly provided.

From Barron's

By now Lord Fredrick had grudgingly agreed to meet the soothsayer, for he had been roundly scolded by his wife.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023