1
as in grudges
a lingering ill will towards a person for a real or imagined wrong
this is no place to air your grievances against him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in complaints
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
she decided to file a formal grievance against the utility company
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 grievances
Yet a right to petition means little if grievances are acknowledged but not meaningfully addressed.
—
Brielle Miller, Baltimore Sun, 9 Mar. 2026
In Send Help, now in theaters, Linda (Rachel McAdams) and her overbearing boss Bradley (Dylan O’Brien) survive a plane crash and become stranded on a deserted island, where their past office grievances become a violent fight for survival.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2026
Authorities have said Mangione’s backpack contained a handgun, a silencer, a magazine with bullets wrapped in underwear, fake identification cards, a red notebook and other writings detailing his grievances against the private health care system in the United States.
—Adam Reiss, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
In response, the city council created a standing opportunity — a recurring public hearing, held each Wednesday — for the public to share grievances around the federal occupation.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
Asked by a reporter after the debate whether his gubernatorial bid was partly driven by grievances against Pritzker, Heidner didn’t hesitate.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
After storms and flooding across Spain, Poland and the United States in late 2024, Moscow worked to claim that support for Ukraine had left countries vulnerable, stoked grievances in NATO countries and discredited Western democracies.
—Michael Chertoff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2026
Kurds in Iran have a long history of grievances and uprisings against both the current Islamic Republic and the monarchy that preceded it.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
The business of the midterms is the redress of old grievances and the introduction of new characters.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
Brielle Miller, Baltimore Sun, 9 Mar. 2026
In Send Help, now in theaters, Linda (Rachel McAdams) and her overbearing boss Bradley (Dylan O’Brien) survive a plane crash and become stranded on a deserted island, where their past office grievances become a violent fight for survival.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2026
Authorities have said Mangione’s backpack contained a handgun, a silencer, a magazine with bullets wrapped in underwear, fake identification cards, a red notebook and other writings detailing his grievances against the private health care system in the United States.
—Adam Reiss, NBC news, 8 Mar. 2026
In response, the city council created a standing opportunity — a recurring public hearing, held each Wednesday — for the public to share grievances around the federal occupation.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
Asked by a reporter after the debate whether his gubernatorial bid was partly driven by grievances against Pritzker, Heidner didn’t hesitate.
—Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
After storms and flooding across Spain, Poland and the United States in late 2024, Moscow worked to claim that support for Ukraine had left countries vulnerable, stoked grievances in NATO countries and discredited Western democracies.
—Michael Chertoff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2026
Kurds in Iran have a long history of grievances and uprisings against both the current Islamic Republic and the monarchy that preceded it.
—ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
The business of the midterms is the redress of old grievances and the introduction of new characters.
—Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grievances
Noun
-
The Olympics that preached harmony finally united in a single city known for love, beauty and grudges.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
As far as grudges go, this one runs dangerously deep.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Over the next few years, relief rates rose as the companies provided more individualized responses to complaints filed through the agency.—
Joel Jacobs,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Chicago taxpayers had to front a $100,000 settlement with the two ex-staffers who filed wrongful termination complaints.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After more than a decade of bro-ing our resentments into demographics, the time has come to bury the construction, maybe forever.—
Dan Brooks,
The Atlantic,
26 Feb. 2026
-
This one asks us to release what the Leo Full Moon revealed is no longer sustainable, especially around power, control, emotional attachments, and unspoken resentments.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The moans announced the doubt throughout Riviera’s 18th green amphitheater, a bowl full of thousands of fans unsure if the new guy could do it.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
At the moment that B’Tselem says Hathaleen collapsed, the visuals are jostled but moans of pain can be heard.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grievances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grievances. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
