GRIEF Synonyms: 134 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

grief

noun

ˈgrēf

Definition of grief

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 Other nonprofit partners have included Everytown for Gun Safety, the Library Project and Koru Camp, with causes ranging from youth empowerment and grief support to food insecurity and environmental conservation. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026 Lukas Dhont | Belgium | 120 min Cannes Acting Prize winners Emmanuel Macchia and Valentin Campagne lead Lukas Dhont’s deeply moving drama about grief, masculinity, friendship, and the pressure to become who others expect. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2026 Aries Rising This month’s astrology is plunging you into a bit of a grief process. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026 Earling gives a voice to the young girl Sacajewea, creating a shattering first-person account of her enslavement, her grief, and her endurance, re-centering her in a brutal history. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grief

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grief

Noun

Because so many of Gunn’s friends died in San Francisco, a city where Gunn had found happiness and freedom, then these elegies are also a monument to a time of communal sorrow and mourning.

— Colm Tóibín, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
Another decision that those who are rejected face, at least if anger is mixed in with sorrow, is where to direct that anger.

— George Loewenstein, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of sorrow

Noun

Players slapped each other’s helmets in frustration while angry voices carried from the sideline.

— D’Joumbarey Moreau, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026
Rubin acknowledged the union’s frustrations in a response to the no-confidence vote, but said there were no funds available to increase overtime.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of frustration

Noun

But through a bit of TV fame, and Ramsay’s signature yelling, ranting, exasperation and, in the end, brotherly wisdom, perhaps its restaurant dreams can come true.

— Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
In a room full of fascists and fools, Ahmed’s projection of competence—and of the spluttering exasperation that is the lot of the competent—proves a genuine balm.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of exasperation

Noun

Republican lawmakers -- many of them in tough election contests where soaring fuel costs are driving voter anger -- praised the agreement.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
The defeat came amid protests sparked by an elderly woman’s eviction, and could deepen public anger and fuel speculation about early elections.

— Joseph Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of anger

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griefs

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Style

“Grief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grief. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of grief

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