Entry Word: grievous

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 difficult to endure <the months of chemotherapy seemed almost as grievous an affliction as the cancer itself> — see harsh 1
2 hard to accept or bear especially emotionally <the death of a spouse can be a grievous loss from which one never recovers> — see bitter 2
3 involving potential loss or injury <a grievous wound that requires a doctorʼs immediate attention> — see dangerous
4 of a kind to cause great distress <the grievous cost of the war in human lives weighed heavily on the presidentʼs mind> — see regrettable