grudgingly

American

[gruhj-ing-lee] / ˈgrʌdʒ ɪŋ li /

adverb

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.

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

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.

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

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

His hosts, the writer Robert Penn Warren and his wife, Eleanor, didn’t own a set but grudgingly suggested that he could walk next door.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 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

Even at the most selective schools, it’s common for only half the student body to make a purchase—a participation rate Jack O’Connor grudgingly accepted as part of the model.

From Slate • May 27, 2025

He let himself relax slightly, grudgingly, beneath her palms.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023