grievous

1 of 2

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

grievousness

2 of 2

noun

griev·​ous·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being grievous

Synonyms of grievous

Adjective

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

Examples of grievous in a Sentence

Adjective

the grievous cost of war

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

This incident seems to have been the result of two coinciding oversights, rather than one grievous wrong. —R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 8 June 2026

Can it be done without grievous injury? —Joe Salas june 07, New Atlas, 7 June 2026

Two boys once triggered a catastrophe – a fireworks mishap that razed an apartment complex and claimed the wife and child of one of its residents, a man named Nomoto, who also suffered grievous burns. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 May 2026

Brown pleaded not guilty to multiple assault charges — including causing grievous bodily harm — and his trial date has been set for October, per the BBC. —Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

Noun

Middle English grevousnesse, from grevous + -nesse -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

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