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Definitions

grudge

[gruhj] / grʌdʒ /
NOUN
hard feelings
Synonyms
STRONGEST
animosity animus antipathy bad blood bitterness enmity grievance hard feelings hate hatred ill will injustice malice rancor resentment
STRONG
aversion dislike hate injury malevolence maliciousness malignancy peeve pique spite spitefulness spleen venom
WEAK
bone to pick pet peeve
Antonyms
STRONGEST
friendliness friendship good will happiness kindness liking love loving respect sympathy
WEAK
favor forgiveness
VERB
feel resentful; give unwillingly
Synonyms
STRONG
begrudge complain covet deny envy mind pinch refuse resent stint
WEAK
be reluctant be stingy hold back
Antonyms
STRONG
allow approve be content be generous be happy give grant offer sanction
WEAK
favor forgive

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.

Grudge match or homecoming - what next for Pimblett?

From BBC • Jan. 25, 2026

Appeared in the January 6, 2026, print edition as 'The Kelly-Hegseth Grudge Match'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 5, 2026

The Air Force then launched a follow-up called Project Grudge, whose mission was exactly what the name suggests—to explicitly dismiss and debunk the UFO issue.

From Slate • Feb. 13, 2023

There was one moment in "The Grudge" when the movie, ever so briefly, rose to the level of greatness.

From Salon • Jan. 3, 2020

But the last part add to first part make the whole word mean ‘Long-Held Grudge.’

From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan

Vocabulary lists containing grudge

"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act I

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This Week in Words: April 1 - 6, 2018

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Beowulf vocabulary

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