Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

grudging

[gruhj-ing] / ˈgrʌdʒ ɪŋ /
ADJECTIVE
covetous
Synonyms
WEAK
acquisitive avaricious avid close-fisted eager ensurient envious gluttonous grabby grasping green-eyed hogging itchy jealous keen mercenary piggish prehensile rapacious ravenous selfish swinish voracious yearning
Antonyms
WEAK
benevolent generous giving
ADJECTIVE
dissatisfied
Synonyms
STRONGEST
discontented
STRONG
annoyed begrudging bothered complaining disaffected disappointed disgruntled displeased fretting frustrated griping grumbling irked jaundiced kvetching offended sniveling unhappy vexed
WEAK
crabby critical ennuied envious faultfinding fed-up fretful grumpy insatiable jealous malcontent malcontented not happy not satisfied picky plaintive put out querulous sulky sullen unappeased unassuaged unfulfilled ungratified unsated unsatisfied
Antonyms
STRONG
contented happy pleased satisfied
WEAK
fulfilled gratified
ADJECTIVE
envious
Synonyms
STRONGEST
distrustful greedy suspicious watchful
WEAK
appetent aspiring begrudging coveting covetous craving desiring desirous fain grasping green with envy green-eyed hankering invidious jaundiced longing for malicious spiteful umbrageous wishful yearning
Antonyms
WEAK
comfortable content kind pleased unenvious
ADJECTIVE
forced
Synonyms
STRONGEST
compelled contrived enforced involuntary mandatory unwilling
STRONG
affected begrudging binding bound coerced conscripted constrained labored slave
WEAK
artificial coercive factitious false inflexible insincere obligatory peremptory rigid stiff stringent unnatural wooden
Antonyms
STRONGEST
voluntary
WEAK
noncompulsory spontaneous unforced
ADJECTIVE
grabby
Synonyms
WEAK
acquisitive avaricious avid carnivorous close close-fisted covetous craving desirous devouring eager edacious esurient gluttonous gobbling gormandizing grasping gulping guzzling hoggish hungry impatient insati insatiable
ADJECTIVE
greedy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
eager hungry impatient rapacious selfish
WEAK
acquisitive avaricious avid carnivorous close close-fisted covetous craving desirous devouring edacious esurient gluttonous gobbling gormandizing grabby grasping gulping guzzling hoggish insatiable insatiate intemperate itchy miserly omnivorous parsimonious penny-pinching penurious piggish prehensile ravening ravenous stingy swinish tight tight-fisted voracious
Antonyms
WEAK
abstemious benevolent charitable extravagant generous liberal philanthropic
ADJECTIVE
hard-fisted
Synonyms
WEAK
acquisitive avaricious chary cheap chintzy churlish close close-fisted costive covetous curmudgeonly economical extortionate frugal grasping greedy ignoble illiberal ironfisted mean miserly narrow near
ADJECTIVE
hoggish
Synonyms
WEAK
acquisitive avaricious avid carnivorous close close-fisted covetous craving desirous devouring eager edacious esurient gluttonous gobbling gormandizing grabby grasping gulping guzzling hungry impatient insatiable insatiat
ADJECTIVE
involuntary
Synonyms
STRONGEST
compulsory forced spontaneous uncontrolled unintentional
WEAK
automatic begrudging blind conditioned habitual impulsive instinctive instinctual knee-jerk obligatory reflex reflexive reluctant uncalculated unconscious unintended unmeditated unpremeditated unprompted unthinking unwilling unwitting will-less
Antonyms
STRONGEST
deliberate intended planned voluntary
WEAK
conscious intentional unforced
ADJECTIVE
jaundiced
Synonyms
STRONG
biased bitter colored disapproving distorted preconceived prepossessed warped yellow
WEAK
bigoted cynical envious hostile intolerant jealous one-sided opprobrious partial partisan resentful skeptical spiteful suspicious tendentious unfair unfriendly unindifferent
Antonyms
WEAK
clean fresh unbiased unprejudiced
ADJECTIVE
jealous
Synonyms
STRONGEST
anxious apprehensive attentive envious intolerant possessive protective resentful skeptical suspicious
WEAK
begrudging covetous demanding doubting emulous envying grabby grasping green-eyed guarded invidious jaundiced mistrustful monopolizing possessory questioning rival solicitous vigilant watchful zealous
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm content undoubting unworried
WEAK
satisfied trusting unresentful
ADJECTIVE
piggish
Synonyms
WEAK
acquisitive avaricious avid carnivorous close close-fisted covetous craving desirous devouring eager edacious esurient gluttonous gobbling gormandizing grabby grasping gulping guzzling hoggish hungry impatient insatiable insatiate intemperate itchy miserly omnivorous parsimonious pennypinching penurious prehensile rapacious ravening ravenous selfish stingy swinish tight tight-fisted voracious
ADJECTIVE
pinching
Synonyms
STRONG
close grasping mean narrow near penny-pinching saving scrimping skimping sparing
WEAK
acquisitive avaricious chary cheap chintzy churlish close-fisted costive covetous curmudgeonly economical extortionate frugal greedy hard-fisted ignoble illiberal ironfisted miserly parsimonious pennywise penurious petty pinchpenny rapacious scurvy selfish sordid thrifty tight tightfisted uncharitable ungenerous ungiving
Antonyms
STRONG
generous spendthrift unselfish wasting
ADJECTIVE
rancorous
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acrimonious bitter resentful spiteful
STRONG
hateful malicious nasty
WEAK
begrudging embittered frowning insulted offended sore virulent
Antonyms
STRONGEST
kind
ADJECTIVE
reluctant
Synonyms
STRONGEST
afraid averse cautious circumspect hesitant loath shy slow squeamish uncertain wary
WEAK
backward calculating chary demurring diffident discouraged disheartened disinclined hanging back hesitating indisposed involuntary laggard opposed queasy recalcitrant remiss slack tardy uneager
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bold careless certain definite heedless incautious indiscreet rash ready sure uncareful willing
WEAK
anxious eager enthusiastic
ADJECTIVE
small
Synonyms
STRONGEST
limited narrow
STRONG
base little mean petty set
WEAK
ignoble illiberal selfish vulgar
Antonyms
STRONGEST
unrestricted
STRONG
important noble
WEAK
benevolent big broad-minded considerate distinguished enormous excellent famous fine generous giving huge immense kind large untrivial
ADJECTIVE
sour
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acid acrid acrimonious bitter grouchy rotten unpleasant
STRONG
discontented displeasing embittered jaundiced tart
WEAK
churlish crabby cynical disagreeable ill-natured ill-tempered irritable on edge peevish ungenerous unhappy waspish
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agreeable content good good-natured kind nice pleasant sweet wonderful
WEAK
cheerful cordial friendly happy
ADJECTIVE
stingy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
frugal greedy miserly selfish thrifty
STRONG
ungenerous
WEAK
acquisitive avaricious chary cheap chintzy churlish close close-fisted costive covetous curmudgeonly economical extortionate grasping ignoble illiberal ironfisted mean narrow near parsimonious pennywise penurious petty pinchpenny rapacious saving scrimping scurvy skimping sordid sparing tightfisted uncharitable ungiving
Antonyms
STRONGEST
extravagant generous liberal uneconomical wasteful
WEAK
spendthrift
ADJECTIVE
unfriendly
Synonyms
STRONGEST
antagonistic chilly combative hateful inhospitable unfavorable
WEAK
acrimonious against alien aloof antisocial censorious cold competitive conflicting contrary disaffected disagreeable distant grouchy gruff ill-disposed inauspicious inimical malicious malignant misanthropic not on speaking terms opposed opposite quarrelsome sour spiteful surly uncharitable uncongenial unneighborly unpropitious unsociable vengeful warlike
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agreeable friendly kind nice
WEAK
approachable sociable
ADJECTIVE
ungenerous
Synonyms
STRONG
stingy
WEAK
close harsh illiberal mean miserly narrow petty selfish shabby small sordid uncharitable
Antonyms
WEAK
generous
ADJECTIVE
unwilling
Synonyms
STRONGEST
afraid averse compelled evasive forced loath reluctant resistant unenthusiastic
WEAK
against against the grain backward begrudging contrary demurring disinclined disobliging hesitating indisposed indocile involuntary laggard malcontent opposed recalcitrant refractory remiss shrinking shy slack slow unaccommodating uncheerful uncooperative uneager uninclined unobliging unready unwishful wayward
Antonyms
STRONGEST
eager enthusiastic ready willing
WEAK
prepared
ADJECTIVE
vindictive
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cruel malicious merciless resentful retaliatory ruthless spiteful unforgiving vengeful
WEAK
avenging grim implacable malignant rancorous relentless unrelenting venomous wreakful
Antonyms
STRONGEST
compassionate considerate forgiving gentle giving kind merciful nice sympathetic thoughtful
WEAK
helpful
NOUN
envy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
begrudging bitterness hatred ill will jealousy malice prejudice resentment rivalry
STRONG
backbiting coveting covetousness enviousness lusting malevolence maliciousness malignity opposition spite
WEAK
evil eye green-eyed monster grudgingness invidiousness jaundiced eye resentfulness
Antonyms
STRONGEST
friendliness liking love loving
WEAK
comfort confidence contentedness good will kindness pleasure
NOUN
meanness
Synonyms
STRONG
belittling cheating scolding
WEAK
coveting deceiving defaming defrauding degrading dishonoring groveling quarreling shaming sneaking
Antonyms
WEAK
generosity nobility worthiness

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 author cites Roosevelt’s critics prominently, and his own approval is grudging and qualified.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 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

However, overall global headcount has grown from 43,000 to 45,000 since 2023 and union sources say there is "grudging respect" for Mr Erginbilgic.

From BBC • Aug. 12, 2025

Prosper the Dodgers have, leading to some grudging acceptance from that longtime Giant.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2025

Calpurnia was standing shyly in the hall, giving her grudging approval to the scene.

From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee

Vocabulary lists containing grudging

The Vocabulary.com Top 1000

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Animal Farm

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

ASVAB Word Knowledge

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!