grudger
Holds onto slights
A grudger is someone who holds grudges—nursing resentments and remembering wrongs long after others have moved on.
The term often carries a note of disapproval, suggesting someone who can't let go: He's such a grudger; he's still mad about something that happened ten years ago.
Wanting to harm back
- retaliatoryDone as payback
- spitefulWanting to hurt others
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- tit-for-tatEquivalent retaliation strategy
nemesis · avenger · retribution · retaliation · unforgiving · implacable · relentless · merciless
Feeling lingering ill will
- bitterSharp, unpleasant taste
- aggrievedFeeling unjustly wronged
- disgruntledSullenly dissatisfied
- sullenSilently bad-tempered
brooding · nursing · festering · smoldering · simmering · harboring · seething · stewing
Lacking breadth of thought
- mean-spiritedUnkind in a petty way
- enviousWanting what others possess
- jealousResentful of others' advantages
- covetousEagerly wanting others' possessions
resentful · niggardly · stingy · withholding · ungenerous · churlish · miserly · tight-fisted
Incapable of being pacified
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- unrelentingRefusing to let up
- hardheartedLacking sympathy or pity
- sternStrict or ship's aft
obstinate · intransigent · unbending · unmerciful · cold · stony · unappeasable · adamant
Actively opposed or hostile
- adversarialCharacterized by conflict
- unfriendlyNot welcoming or warm
- cold-shoulderIntentional social rejection
- standoffishUnfriendly in manner
malevolent · ill-disposed · inimical · combative · contentious · quarrelsome · belligerent · confrontational
vengeful
Wanting to harm back
- retaliatoryDone as payback
- spitefulWanting to hurt others
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
tit-for-tat · nemesis · avenger · retribution · retaliation · unforgiving · implacable · relentless · merciless · ruthless
resentful
Feeling lingering ill will
- bitterSharp, unpleasant taste
- aggrievedFeeling unjustly wronged
- disgruntledSullenly dissatisfied
sullen · brooding · nursing · festering · smoldering · simmering · harboring · seething · stewing · wounded
small-minded
Lacking breadth of thought
- mean-spiritedUnkind in a petty way
- enviousWanting what others possess
- jealousResentful of others' advantages
covetous · resentful · niggardly · stingy · withholding · ungenerous · churlish · miserly · tight-fisted · penny-pinching
implacable
Incapable of being pacified
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- unrelentingRefusing to let up
- hardheartedLacking sympathy or pity
stern · obstinate · intransigent · unbending · unmerciful · cold · stony · unappeasable · adamant · rigid
antagonistic
Actively opposed or hostile
- adversarialCharacterized by conflict
- unfriendlyNot welcoming or warm
- cold-shoulderIntentional social rejection
standoffish · malevolent · ill-disposed · inimical · combative · contentious · quarrelsome · belligerent · confrontational · oppositional
grudgerforgiver
One who pardons
pardoner · absolver · reconciler · peacemaker · excuser
- hold a grudgeMaintain lasting resentment
- bear a grudgeMaintain lasting ill will
- grudge matchContest to settle scores
- grudge matchesCompetitions between longtime rivals
- old grudge
- grudge holderOne nursing old resentments
grudge, grudging, begrudge, begrudging, grudges, grudgingly, grudged, ungrudging, begrudged