What does grudged mean?
Grudged is the past tense and past participle of grudge, a verb meaning to resent someone or something or to be unwilling to forgive, acknowledge, or grant it. It is commonly used when someone feels that another person has received an advantage, recognition, or opportunity that they believe should have been theirs, as in “She grudged him the praise.” The word carries a strong sense of bitterness or reluctance rather than open hostility. It can also mean that someone performed an action unwillingly, such as offering forgiveness or acknowledging another person’s success. In its less common adjectival use, grudged describes an unwilling or resentful attitude, as in “a grudged nod.” Grudged is recognized in both British and American English and can appear in everyday conversation as well as in formal and literary writing. It is especially useful when the speaker wants to emphasize the emotional reluctance behind an action.
To resent or feel bitter toward someone or something, or to be unwilling to forgive, acknowledge, or grant something.
"They grudged their neighbor the success of her new business."
This is the standard and dominant use of grudged.
Feeling or showing unwillingness, resentment, or reluctance to forgive, acknowledge, or grant something.
"He gave her a grudged smile and walked away."
This use is less common than the verb use and is often participial or attributive.
A grudge is something you carry; grudged is the moment you let it show.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does grudged come from?
Grudged is formed from the older English word grudge by adding the past-tense and past-participle ending -d. The noun and verb grudge developed during the medieval period in connection with resentment, jealousy, complaint, and unwillingness to concede something, although the word’s ultimate medieval origins are not entirely certain. English also has the closely related form begrudge, meaning to withhold or begrudge something, as well as the participial and adjectival forms grudging and grudgingly.
Related word forms
How grudged is actually used
As a verb, grudged is normally the past tense or past participle of grudge and is neutral in register, though it often conveys a formal or literary nuance. Its adjective use is less common and typically appears in expressions such as grudged approval or a grudged nod.
Easily confused with grudged
Grudge is the base noun and verb, while grudged is its past-tense and past-participle form.
Grudging is the adjective or present participle describing reluctance or resentment, whereas grudged indicates that an action occurred in the past.