grudgingly

American  

[gruhj-ing-lee] / ˈgrʌdʒ ɪŋ li /

adverb

1. 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.

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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

Explanation

If you do something grudgingly, you're not exactly whistling while you work — you're resentful and annoyed and only doing it, probably, because you have to. A grudge is a lingering resentment against someone, something you can't quite forgive. When you behave grudgingly, you're acting as if you're remembering some past slight or insult. If the guy behind the counter in the deli glares at you and hands you your sandwich grudgingly, you might wonder what you did to make him so grouchy and mad at you.

Example Sentences

A top Fidesz official grudgingly admitted that Magyar has "a brutal energy", which his own camp often lacks.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Tanking, as the practice is known, has been a grudgingly accepted reality of the NBA for decades.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

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

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

Sitting in the audience during the first act rehearsal, Holmes’ Lloyd grudgingly offers words of encouragement while seething with impatience.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2025

A roar comes from the audience, and her opponent shakes her hand grudgingly.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

Related Words

• carefully
• cautiously
• hesitantly
• unwillingly
• warily