1
as in harsh
difficult to endure
the months of chemotherapy seemed almost as grievous an affliction as the cancer itself
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
the death of a spouse can be a grievous loss from which one never recovers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dangerous
involving potential loss or injury
a grievous wound that requires a doctor's immediate attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in tragic
of a kind to cause great distress
the grievous cost of the war in human lives weighed heavily on the president's mind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grievous
Confirming Patel would be a grievous mistake that would endanger the FBI's integrity and compromise its critical mission.
—
Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
Hospitals treating the wounded are overwhelmed, aid agencies said, who also reported grievous crimes committed against civilians.
—Nimi Princewill, CNN, 29 Jan. 2025
This, despite the fact that in New York City, injuries to pedestrians from bicycles are vanishingly rare, while grievous injuries to both pedestrians and cyclists from cars are common.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
An unnamed 16-year-old boy received an 18-month supervision order after admitting to grievous bodily harm, and an unnamed 17-year-old girl will be sentenced at a later date after pleading guilty to robbery and possession of cannabis.
—Abby Monteil, Them, 17 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grievous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grievous
Adjective
-
Hope reigns even in this harsh political climate we Americans are now experiencing.—
-
Even if investors are slightly more confident this week, after Trump backed off most of his harshest tariff rates, the changes in people’s life-style habits serve as their own kind of affective barometer.—
Adjective
-
But amidst this painful reality, a story rooted in joy, agency, and radical self-determination is emerging.—
-
This is especially painful for individuals who are approaching Medicare eligibility, as a conversion might result in substantially higher premiums for Medicare Part B and Part D prescription coverage.—
Adjective
-
Prioritising one competition in favour of another is a dangerous game to play in any case when the stakes are so high.—
-
The company highlights one type of attack that is now targeting users and which is especially dangerous.—
Adjective
-
The December fatal shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson allegedly by Luigi Mangione serves as an extreme and tragic example.—
-
The episode is fundamentally a story about relationships, good and ill. 3. 'San Junipero' (Season 3, 2016) Romantic, gratifying but also deeply tragic, this retro-futuristic episode starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Mackenzie Davis is Emmy-winning and beloved by fans for a reason.—
Adjective
-
Her viral speech in Minneapolis in 2020 remains one of the most searing indictments of state violence in recent memory.—
-
Storms in the South can topple shade trees, opening yards to the searing summer sun.—
Adjective
-
Everybody else has no choice, really, other than to bring a cruel, narcissistic far-right leader to power.—
-
Jokes that didn’t land with the squad The kids in Bad Influence say the pranks were the most cruel.—
Adjective
-
Specialized drivers transporting hazardous materials or oversized loads can earn $75,750–$118,600 per year, while owner-operators may make $85,000–$100,000, excluding maintenance expenses.—
-
The plane was removed from the water by 10 a.m., per ABC 9. Crews are working to contain a hazardous materials incident related to the plane incident.—
Adjective
-
Such a difficult call really spotlighted for the first time how tough a situation he has been left in by Eddie Howe’s unfortunate absence (due to pneumonia).—
-
In 2022, Manhattan Federal Judge Jed Rakoff, who presided over both trials, decided The Times was not liable for defamation while jurors were deliberating, that the error amounted to unfortunate editorializing but not libel.—
Cite this Entry
“Grievous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grievous. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share