begrudgery: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low to MediumFormal, Literary, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “begrudgery” mean?
Resentment or envy towards another's success, possessions, or good fortune.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Resentment or envy towards another's success, possessions, or good fortune.
A social attitude or cultural climate characterized by widespread resentment and envy of those perceived as more successful.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in British and Irish English, especially in socio-political commentary. In American English, the concept is more often expressed with phrases like "resentment" or "culture of envy."
Connotations
In Irish English, it carries a strong cultural connotation, referring to a supposed national tendency to resent others' success. Elsewhere, it's a more general socio-psychological term.
Frequency
Significantly more frequent in UK and Irish media/political discourse than in US English.
Grammar
How to Use “begrudgery” in a Sentence
a culture of [begrudgery]accusations of [begrudgery]to be fueled by [begrudgery]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “begrudgery” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Some people seem to begrudge anyone else's good fortune.
- I don't begrudge him his promotion, but the way he got it was unfair.
American English
- No one should begrudge you a well-deserved vacation.
- She didn't begrudge the money spent on her children's education.
adverb
British English
- He admitted begrudgingly that she was right.
American English
- They agreed to the terms begrudgingly.
adjective
British English
- He gave a begrudging compliment.
- There was begrudging admiration in her tone.
American English
- She offered a begrudging apology.
- They gave their begrudging consent.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in commentary on workplace culture or entrepreneurial attitudes, e.g., discussing a lack of support for successful colleagues.
Academic
Found in sociology, political science, or cultural studies texts analyzing social attitudes and group dynamics.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used in more thoughtful discussions about community or national attitudes.
Technical
Not a technical term in hard sciences; used descriptively in social sciences.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “begrudgery”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “begrudgery”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “begrudgery”
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'he felt a begrudgery' – incorrect).
- Confusing it with the verb 'to begrudge'. 'Begrudgery' is the noun for the overall attitude.
- Misspelling as 'begrudgry' or 'begrudgerie'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a recognized, though not extremely common, noun derived from the verb 'to begrudge'. It is listed in comprehensive dictionaries like the OED.
'Envy' is the broader feeling of wanting what someone else has. 'Begrudgery' is more specific: it is a resentful kind of envy, often combined with a desire to deny, belittle, or see taken away the good fortune of another. It implies bitterness and ill-will.
The word is often used in Irish public discourse to critique a perceived national tendency to resent or 'cut down to size' those who are seen as too successful or getting 'above themselves'. This is linked to the similar concept of 'Tall Poppy Syndrome'.
No, it is almost exclusively negative. It describes a petty, ungenerous, and socially corrosive attitude.
Resentment or envy towards another's success, possessions, or good fortune.
Begrudgery is usually formal, literary, journalistic in register.
Begrudgery: in British English it is pronounced /bɪˈɡrʌdʒ(ə)ri/, and in American English it is pronounced /bɪˈɡrʌdʒəri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The tall poppy syndrome (similar concept)”
- “To look down one's nose at someone”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a person saying, "Be? I GRUDGE your salary!" This captures the resentful core of the word.
Conceptual Metaphor
RESENTMENT IS A TOXIC SOCIAL CLIMATE / ENVY IS A DISEASE SPREADING IN A SOCIETY.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'begrudgery' most aptly used?