grief

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word grief different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of grief are anguish, regret, sorrow, and woe. While all these words mean "distress of mind," grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause.

the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

When is it sensible to use anguish instead of grief?

The meanings of anguish and grief largely overlap; however, anguish suggests torturing grief or dread.

the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

When would regret be a good substitute for grief?

The words regret and grief are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse.

nagging regret for missed opportunities

When is sorrow a more appropriate choice than grief?

While the synonyms sorrow and grief are close in meaning, sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse.

a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death

When might woe be a better fit than grief?

The synonyms woe and grief are sometimes interchangeable, but woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery.

cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

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 grief The grief felt by our entire staff is indescribable. Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025 His loved ones also quickly took to social media to express their grief. Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2025 But the grief Roberts brings to her part is almost unspeakably raw — which is critical for understanding some of the directions the film eventually takes. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025 That disposability is its own kind of grief. Essence, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grief
Noun
  • Running underneath all of our efforts was heartache, sorrow, and anxiety over her loss.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
  • In early Christian thinking, its connotations of languor and listlessness, within the spirit no less than the body, lent it the status of a sin—a turning aside from God for the sake of earthly sorrow.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The comments illustrate the frustration as the four remaining controllers waited on a regional air traffic control center across the state to clear planes to enter the airspace.
    Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
  • In the film, directed by Mike Judge, Peter Gibbons (Livingston) and his coworkers, Michael Bolton (David Herman) and Samir Nagheenanajar (Ajay Naidu), enjoy the last day at their job by taking out years of frustrations on their frequently malfunctioning office printer.
    Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • That pivot is in Alex’s sudden move toward becoming an amateur stand-up comic, using the stage and the microphone as therapy platforms for his anguish.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Nothing has surfaced to document her anguish.
    Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Lead singer Brandon Coleman, as usual, puts forth a commanding, soulful vocal that encapsulates the lyric’s seething exasperation and longing for less division.
    Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2025
  • As a model named Carl, stuck in a relationship corrupted by microcelebrity and Instagram view counts, Dickinson ticks with exasperation and sarcastic logic, his jaw clenched, his eyes wide and staring.
    Carrie Battan, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Many people use ear seeds without issues, but the seeds or tape can cause discomfort, skin irritation, nausea, or dizziness.
    Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 14 Oct. 2025
  • By virtue of its lack of carbs, clear protein doesn’t contain any lactose—a sugar found in dairy that can cause digestive irritation in some people, like bloating and diarrhea.
    Caroline Tien, SELF, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • For Yankees fans, there will be anger.
    Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Through sharp wit and deep introspection, Wood reveals the wisdom he’s gathered—from knowing when to hold your tongue to learning how to channel anger into purpose.
    Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 9 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grief. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on grief

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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