grief

Definition of griefnext
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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 That is partly by design, hewing to a structure that mirrors Evans’ own process of addiction and grief. Ben Croll, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026 In the middle of deep grief, your support has been a light. Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 12 Feb. 2026 These transitions have wrought a new relationship to impermanence, and to the meaning of both family and home, installing grief as a permanent fixture in my life and making even my parents’ home feel slightly foreign now that my father no longer lives there. Naomi Jackson, Curbed, 11 Feb. 2026 Bushman, who was posted with the CDC, got a medical waiver delaying her deployment on account of stress and grief. Amy Maxmen, Miami Herald, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grief
Noun
  • Buckley navigates the film in elemental sorrow without sentimentality, delivering what many consider the performance of the year, and undoubtedly her career so far.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Now, their families are turning sorrow into service.
    Ashley Paul, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Rosen has voiced frustration with the prospect of having supported Measure A and still bracing for heavy cuts to his office.
    Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • The year before, Jackson had been involved in a demonstration that closed part of the Dan Ryan Expressway, a mass expression of frustration over gun violence.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Even now, more than 40 years later, the lasting image of her career is of Decker laying on the track in anguish and tears after colliding with Zola Budd in the 1984 Olympic 3,000-meter run.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Néfissa cries loudly and with anguish about her son, but refuses to acknowledge his truth.
    Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Conversations with him on this topic tend to be a bacchanal of profanity and exasperation.
    Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Though Miami has made the playoffs every year this decade, and gone to two Finals in the past six years, fan exasperation stems from a team (with historically high standards and achievement) remaining in play-in purgatory for what’s headed toward a fourth consecutive season.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • To round things out, many formulas include multitaskers like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid for hydration and brightening, plus gentler exfoliants—think PHA or low-dose AHA/BHA blends, so skin gets the benefits of exfoliation without the irritation.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 15 Feb. 2026
  • While experts say stronger regulation is needed, women may be able to lower potential risk by limiting wear time and watching for scalp irritation.
    Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 12 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The manipulations also affected how much sadness and anger participants reported feeling while scrolling.
    Simon Makin, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Iran at home faces still-simmering anger over its wide-ranging suppression of all dissent in the Islamic Republic.
    Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Grief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grief. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on grief

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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