grief

grief

noun \ˈgrēf\

Definition of GRIEF

1

obsolete : grievance 3

2

a : deep and poignant distress caused by or as if by bereavement b : a cause of such suffering

3

a : an unfortunate outcome : disaster —used chiefly in the phrase come to grief b : mishap, misadventure c : trouble, annoyance <enough grief for one day> d : annoying or playful criticism <getting grief from his friends>

Examples of GRIEF

1. He has been unable to recover from his grief at his son's death.
2. She was overcome with grief.
3. the joys and griefs of our lives
4. I've had enough grief for one day.
5. Trying to fix the computer isn't worth the grief.
6. He's taken a lot of grief from his friends.
7. His friends have been giving him a lot of grief.

Origin of GRIEF

Middle English gref, from Anglo-French gref, grief injustice, calamity, from gref, adjective heavy, grievous, from Vulgar Latin *grevis, alteration of Latin gravis

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to GRIEF

Synonyms: affliction, anguish, dolefulness, dolor, sorrow, heartache, heartbreak, sorriness, woe

Antonyms: blessedness, bliss, blissfulness, cheer, cheerfulness, cheeriness, delight, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, exuberance, exultation, felicity, gladness, gladsomeness, glee, gleefulness, happiness, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilation, pleasure, rapture, rapturousness

Related Words: agony, distress, pain, suffering, torment; blue devils, blues, dejection, depression, desolateness, desolation, despair, despondence, despondency, disconsolateness, dispiritedness, distress, doldrums, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps, forlornness, gloom, gloominess, glumness, heartsickness, joylessness, melancholy, miserableness, misery, mopes, oppression, sorrowfulness, unhappiness, woefulness, wretchedness; contrition, guilt, regret, remorse, rue, self-reproach, shame; melancholia, self-pity

Near Antonyms: gaiety (also gayety), gayness, humor, jollity, joviality, lightheartedness, merriment, merrymaking, mirth, mirthfulness; hopefulness, optimism, sunniness; enjoyment; content, contentedness, contentment

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See Synonym Discussion at sorrow

Rhymes with GRIEF

beef, brief, chief, fief, kef, leaf, lief, reef, sheaf, thief