1
: causing or characterized by severe pain, suffering, or sorrow
a grievous wound
a grievous loss
2
: oppressive, onerous
grievous costs of war
grievously
adverb
grievousness
noun
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
Chris Brown has been arrested in the U.K. The Metropolitan Police confirmed to USA TODAY on May 15 that a 36-year-old man was arrested at a Manchester hotel just after 2 p.m. on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.
—
Jay Stahl, USA Today, 17 May 2025
Despite Hawkins’ commitment to the bit, however, Laura is a cartoonish villain that makes identifying with or even understanding her grievous plight — there is no word in the English language for a person who’s lost a child, after all — a steep challenge.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 May 2025
The Grammy-winning singer was charged with one count of causing grievous bodily harm after being arrested at a hotel in England.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 16 May 2025
Chris Brown, the R&B singer, was ordered to be held in custody until June 13 by a court in Manchester, England, on Friday after he was charged with grievous bodily harm.
—Alex Marshall, New York Times, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for grievous
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Jay Stahl, USA Today, 17 May 2025
Despite Hawkins’ commitment to the bit, however, Laura is a cartoonish villain that makes identifying with or even understanding her grievous plight — there is no word in the English language for a person who’s lost a child, after all — a steep challenge.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 May 2025
The Grammy-winning singer was charged with one count of causing grievous bodily harm after being arrested at a hotel in England.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 16 May 2025
Chris Brown, the R&B singer, was ordered to be held in custody until June 13 by a court in Manchester, England, on Friday after he was charged with grievous bodily harm.
—Alex Marshall, New York Times, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for grievous
Cite this Entry
“Grievous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grievous. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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