grievous

adjective

griev·​ous ˈgrē-vəs 

1

: causing or characterized by severe pain, suffering, or sorrow

a grievous wound

a grievous loss

2

: oppressive, onerous

grievous costs of war

3

: serious, grave

grievous fault

grievously adverb

grievousness noun

Synonyms

• harsh
• searing
• severe
• oppressive
• tough
• brutal
• rough
• hard
• cruel
• grim
• painful

Examples of grievous in a Sentence

the grievous cost of war

He took a foolish financial risk and suffered a grievous loss.

Recent Examples on the Web

Accountability for the Israeli leadership’s grievous violations of international law is necessary. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025

In May, the singer was arrested in Manchester and charged with grievous bodily harm with intent and spent nearly a week in custody. —Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025

West Midlands Police announced charges on Oct. 7 against Tobias Kozlowski, 38, including murder, conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to falsely imprison another, and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. —Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025

Buruk hit the turf, holding his face as if grievous harm had been inflicted. —Nick Miller, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English grevous, greveus "oppressive, burdensome, injurious, severe (of sickness, wounds)," borrowed from Anglo-French grevous, grevus (continental Old French grevos), from gref "burden, hardship, grief" + -ous -ous

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

grievous

adjective

griev·​ous ˈgrē-vəs 

1

: heavy entry 1 sense 2, severe

the grievous cost of war

2

: causing pain, suffering, or sorrow

a grievous wound

3

: serious sense 4, grave

a grievous mistake

grievously adverb

grievousness noun