1
as in sorrow
deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved
even the gruff grandfather felt a heartbreaking grief when the family dog died
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frustration
the feeling of impatience or anger caused by another's repeated disagreeable acts
there seemed to be no end to the grief that the school bullies were giving to the young boy
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 grief
In Baghdad, thousands marched through the streets, including some who slashed their heads with razors and performed other forms of self-flagellation in a show of grief to mark the occasion.
—
Fadi Tawil,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
Another mother sobbed and collapsed in grief as the bodies of her 3- and 10-year-old children were wrapped in blankets and carried away.
—
ABC News,
26 June 2026
As his tussles with grief and sobriety and heartbreak appear in flashes, so do red and blue police lights.
—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
26 June 2026
Shami, overwhelmed with grief, was taken to the maternity ward to be monitored, with doctors worried about her and the baby.
—
Ruth Sherlock,
NPR,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for grief
Fadi Tawil,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
Another mother sobbed and collapsed in grief as the bodies of her 3- and 10-year-old children were wrapped in blankets and carried away.
—
ABC News,
26 June 2026
As his tussles with grief and sobriety and heartbreak appear in flashes, so do red and blue police lights.
—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
26 June 2026
Shami, overwhelmed with grief, was taken to the maternity ward to be monitored, with doctors worried about her and the baby.
—
Ruth Sherlock,
NPR,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for grief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grief
Noun
-
Kara is addicted to drowning her sorrows and avoiding responsibility, but learns to embrace heroism after embarking on a quest for revenge alongside Ruthye (Eve Ridley).
-
Parting is such sweet sorrow, but these guys aren’t going gently into the night just yet.
Noun
-
Those frustrations could be on the verge of boiling over.
-
But without knowing the reasons behind those decisions, the criticism amounts to nothing more than frustrations over unmet expectations.
Noun
-
Their mother cried out in anguish.
-
Meanwhile, hundreds remained missing, leading to a wave of anguish among relatives and friends.
Noun
-
When even her attempts at enjoying life’s simpler pleasures — like some chicken parm and coconut cream pie at home with a glass of wine — go tragically awry, Patricia’s disappointment and exasperation are both hilarious and painfully palpable.
-
Around midday, a group of disappointed Alaskans emerged from their state’s pavilion with exasperation.
Noun
-
Ozone can cause respiratory irritation, trigger asthma attacks, worsen lung disease, harm lung tissue and even cause premature death.
-
In worst-case scenarios, application of expired makeup could lead to irritation, breakouts, or eye infections.
Noun
-
Research shows over half of American travelers feel exhausted, with one in five admitting to booking a trip out of anger.
-
Newsom, eyeing a presidential run in 2028, has spoken in recent months about populist anger directed towards tech executives whose companies have earned billions while their products threaten to automate jobs out of existence and suck up precious environmental resources.
Cite this Entry
“Grief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grief. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
