Meaning & use

begrudging

adjective·Advanced

Given or done reluctantly and with some resentment, rather than freely or willingly.

See it in a sentence

He offered a begrudging apology, clearly still angry about the misunderstanding.

Even her harshest critics gave a begrudging nod to the quality of the film.

A note on using this word

Begrudging and grudging are near-synonyms, but begrudging more strongly implies the speaker feels envy or resentment.

Words with a similar meaning

reluctantgrudging

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

willinggracious

Make it your own

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