Grudging means given unwillingly and without warmth. Grudging respect, a grudging apology, grudgingly agreed.
Grudging respect is the interesting one, because the unwillingness makes the compliment worth more — praise from somebody who did not want to give it counts for something. A grudging apology is worth nothing at all, and everybody can tell.
1adjectivegrudgingGiven unwillingly and without warmth.
“He gave a grudging nod of approval, as if it cost him something.”
grudging is a quality of unwillingness.