Grudgeful

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈɡɹʌd͡ʒfəl/

Definitions

1. Possessing a strong inclination to retain resentment toward others Marked by an unwillingness to let go of past offenses Reflecting a mentality that focuses on historical grievances and animosities
2. Having a deep-seated feeling of bitterness or hostility toward someone due to past wrongs
3. Displaying a persistent unwillingness to forgive or forget perceived offenses

Etymology: "Grudgeful" is simply "grudge" with the suffix "-ful" attached, meaning "full of" or "characterized by." A grudge is a resentment held over a past wrong, and the adjective describes someone whose mind is full of such resentment, or a mood or manner that carries it. The noun "grudge" reaches back to Old French "grucier" (to murmur, grumble, or complain), which itself is linked to the idea of grumbling under one's breath. So the root sense is less about nursing a wrong in silence and more about the audible discontent that comes before it hardens into resentment. The suffix "-ful" was attached to a huge range of English nouns, and the result is a word that simply reports the quality of being full of something, much as "hopeful" or "spiteful" do.

Synonyms: resentful, spiteful

Antonyms: forgiving, generous