grudge holding
Refusing to forgive
Grudge holding is the practice of maintaining resentment toward someone over a past offense, refusing to forgive or move on.
A grudge holder keeps mental records of wrongs done to them: Her grudge holding made family gatherings tense for years.
The trait suggests emotional inflexibility—an inability or unwillingness to let go of grievances even when doing so might serve everyone better.
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- vendettaProlonged retaliatory conflict
- bad bloodLasting hostile feelings
- spitePetty malicious intent
bitter feelings · animosity · bone to pick · revenge · axe to grind · unforgiveness · nursing · festering · simmering · score-settling · keeping score · petty · cold shoulder · silent treatment · scorekeeping · wounded · slighted · wronged
- narcissismnarcissist, narcissistic personality disorder, ego, vanity, self-love
- bad habitssmoking, drinking, lying, swearing, gossiping
- passive aggressionsilent treatment, backhanded compliments, backhanded compliment, cold shoulder, eye rolling
- personality symptomsparanoia, suspiciousness, social isolation, odd beliefs, magical thinking
grudge holdingforgiveness
Releasing resentment toward offenders
forgiving · letting go · pardoning · absolution · burying the hatchet
grudge holdingmagnanimity
Generous, noble spirit
big-heartedness · graciousness · forbearance · open-heartedness · warm-heartedness
grudge holdingmoving on
Proceeding past something
letting bygones be bygones · forgetting · water under the bridge · emotional release · making peace
grudge, holding, grudges, grudging, grudgingly, hold, holds, holder, holders