1
as in harsh
difficult to endure
the months of chemotherapy seemed almost as grievous an affliction as the cancer itself
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
the death of a spouse can be a grievous loss from which one never recovers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dangerous
involving potential loss or injury
a grievous wound that requires a doctor's immediate attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in tragic
of a kind to cause great distress
the grievous cost of the war in human lives weighed heavily on the president's mind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grievous
Chris Brown entered a not guilty plea in his grievous bodily harm case this morning at a court in London.
—
Zac Ntim, Deadline, 20 June 2025
Alison is so committed to her ideals that even acting them out feels like a grievous compromise; better to keep them on the wall, like the giant taxidermied moose head that quietly rolls its eyes as Alison thumbs glumly through Capital.
—Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 16 June 2025
The 36-year-old American star — currently on tour in Europe — is accused of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to music producer Abraham Diaw just hours after performing to thousands at a venue in Cardiff, Wales.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2025
Afterward, Brown pleaded not guilty to a charge of grievous bodily harm with intent, The New York Times reports.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for grievous
Zac Ntim, Deadline, 20 June 2025
Alison is so committed to her ideals that even acting them out feels like a grievous compromise; better to keep them on the wall, like the giant taxidermied moose head that quietly rolls its eyes as Alison thumbs glumly through Capital.
—Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 16 June 2025
The 36-year-old American star — currently on tour in Europe — is accused of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to music producer Abraham Diaw just hours after performing to thousands at a venue in Cardiff, Wales.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2025
Afterward, Brown pleaded not guilty to a charge of grievous bodily harm with intent, The New York Times reports.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for grievous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grievous
Adjective
-
Late-night talk shows across the board are facing the harsh reality that declines in ad revenue can’t make up for burgeoning production costs.—
Liam Reilly,
CNN Money,
22 July 2025
-
The harsh reality is this: not all cell phone forensic extractions are created equal, and the most important evidence for trucking cases on the smartphone will be gone in days or weeks.—
Lars Daniel,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
Higher temperatures can be too hot for a dog’s paw pads and, in some cases, can cause painful burns.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
22 July 2025
-
Some people will also get deeper nodules and cysts that are painful or tender to the touch.2 Ice can be very effective at alleviating pain and reducing inflammation.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
Other symptoms can include itching, swelling, and a throbbing pain that radiates up the affected limb, according to Cleveland Clinic. Types Of Jellyfish To Look Out For According to Coffey, the U.S. is home to more than 9,000 species of jellyfish, and only about 100 are considered dangerous.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
11 July 2025
-
Making Their Lives Too Easy Wealth without work creates a dangerous illusion.—
Anatoly Iofe,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Although authorities said a criminal investigation is underway, a police spokesperson told the DPA that the force is currently considering the incident a tragic accident.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
20 July 2025
-
The Louisiana native has been working steadily since the early ’90s, appearing in the Julia Roberts/Dennis Quaid vehicle Something To Talk About (1995), John Singleton’s tragic historical drama Rosewood (1997), and a string of high-profile TV series.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
20 July 2025
Adjective
-
In a searing rebuttal days before the British socialite was convicted for procuring victims for Epstein’s abuse in December 2021, Comey spoke to the perverted duo’s reasons for targeting teens from disadvantaged backgrounds.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
17 July 2025
-
In a searing ruling against the Trump administration, a federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked federal agents from using racial profiling to carry out indiscriminate immigration arrests that advocates say have terrorized Angelenos, forced people into hiding and damaged the local economy.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
Each of us should demand our local leaders challenge every one of the immoral and cruel state laws and the Gestapo-like raids and inhumane detainments carried out by ICE agents.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 July 2025
-
Even critics who considered his policies cruel and racist – and there were many – admitted that behind the bluster there was the charm of a true believer.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
Fire crews sometimes allow lightning-strike fires to burn, and made the decision to do that on the Dragon Bravo Fire, intended to reduce hazardous fuels and vegetation along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
15 July 2025
-
Map of damage: See how the Texas floods unfolded and why Camp Mystic was in a hazardous location The death toll has risen to 129 on Saturday, including more than three dozen children.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
Instead, like so many unfortunate accidents since cell phones were invented, this was caused by a distracted driver.—
Anne Marie D. Lee,
CBS News,
14 July 2025
-
Fortunately for him, that gaffe will be a little easier to live down than Teal and Weinberg’s unfortunate comments.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grievous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grievous. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share