Begrudging: meaning, definitions and examples
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begrudging
[ bɪˈɡrʌdʒ.ɪŋ ]
reluctant permission
Begrudging refers to the act of giving or doing something in a resentful or unwilling manner. When someone is begrudging, they may express reluctance or dissatisfaction about the action they are taking. This term often describes situations where one party feels compelled to concede something to another, even though they would rather not. It implies a sense of reluctance and often carries a negative connotation, indicating that the action is not done willingly or with a positive attitude.
Synonyms
discontented, reluctant, resentful
Examples of usage
- She offered a begrudging apology for her mistake.
- His begrudging acceptance of the project showed he was not really interested.
- They gave a begrudging nod of approval.
- After much hesitation, he gave her a begrudging thumbs up.
Translations
Translations of the word "begrudging" in other languages:
🇵🇹 relutante
🇮🇳 नफरत से
🇩🇪 widerwillig
🇮🇩 enggan
🇺🇦 недоброзичливий
🇵🇱 niechętny
🇯🇵 不本意な
🇫🇷 réticent
🇪🇸 renuente
🇹🇷 isteksiz
🇰🇷 마지못해 하는
🇸🇦 مُتَحَفِّظ
🇨🇿 neochotný
🇸🇰 neochotný
🇨🇳 不情愿的
🇸🇮 nepripravljen
🇮🇸 óhugnandi
🇰🇿 қалаусыз
🇬🇪 არამზადა
🇦🇿 iradəsiz
🇲🇽 renuente
Etymology
The term 'begrudge' has its origins in the early 17th century. It is derived from the Middle English 'begrudgen', which combines the prefix 'be-' with the verb 'grudge'. The prefix 'be-' is often used to form verbs in English, while 'grudge' itself stems from the Old French 'gruger', meaning to murmur or complain. Hence, 'begrudge' literally means to complain about or to hold a grudge against. The adjective form 'begrudging' has developed from this verb and is used to describe situations where someone feels reluctant or resentful about giving something, be it acknowledgement, praise, or even physical items. Over the years, this term has come to encapsulate the feelings of dissatisfaction and resentment that often accompany unwilling acts of concession.
Word Frequency Rank
Ranking #37,948, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.