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 One of the biggest obstacles of the show for me was grief. Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025 Part of what solidified their connection was being there for one another in moments of grief. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 6 Nov. 2025 Anderson Cooper is expanding his podcast about grief. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025 Fear, anger, grief—all of these are human, appropriate responses to real crises. Marc Brackett, Time, 28 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grief
Noun
  • Death, fear, and sorrow unify the disparate practices.
    Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026
  • But grief will give you so much more than sorrow.
    Lauren DePino, CNN Money, 4 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • British officials downplayed the pause as temporary, insisting momentum would resume amid complex negotiations, but the impasse signals broader frustrations with Europe’s regulatory posture toward American innovation, market access, and economic sovereignty.
    Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Emotions were on full display with many expressing sadness and frustration, not only over Wednesday's federal raid, but raids happening around the Twin Cities over the last 40 days.
    WCCO Staff, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • No adolescent defiance or child’s anguish was visible on his face now.
    George Packer, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Some critics called for more editorial discipline in the film, or found Lawrence’s onscreen spin cycle of anguish, which involves literally clawing her way up walls or flinging herself through glass doors, to be repetitive.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Mahama breaks off in exasperation.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Some councilmembers reacted to the extension with exasperation Wednesday.
    Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Just avoid placing them directly against bare skin for extended periods to prevent irritation or burns.
    Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Rarely, salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms.
    Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The thumping Republicans took in this week's elections reflected longer-running anger among constituencies that already leaned Democratic, but the GOP needs to worry that the government shutdown will cause that frustration to spread.
    Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • And that is why my first true voice—the one that could hold complexity, contradiction, grief, even anger—came in English.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grief. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on grief

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