GRIEVING Synonyms: 181 Similar and Opposite Words

grieving 1 of 3

adjective

as in weeping

expressing or suggesting mourning the grieving sobs of the widow could be heard throughout the funeral service

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grieving

2 of 3

noun

as in mourning

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

grieving

3 of 3

verb

present participle of grieve

as in aching

to feel deep sadness or mental pain we all grieved over the lost cat

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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 grieving

Adjective

There’s so much more loss, so much more grieving, many more regrets. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2026

Noun

Or that most people know him only as a grieving spouse, and he was elected out of sympathy? — Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026 This horrendous act leads a grieving but determined Ruthye to Kara Zor-El, dead set on exacting revenge for the killings and using our Supergirl to help get her to the culprit. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 24 June 2026 Sallie West has since opened her front door to the grieving. — Karen Valby, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026 Traumatized into silence, the de facto orphan stays living with the kindly but guilt-ridden, grieving and impecunious Hiroshi. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 12 June 2026 The grieving in the sense of mourning and crying and all that might stop, but the pain is going to be there. — Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026 Is this part of a process of grieving or one of denial? — Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026 The search for answers is one step in a long grieving process. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026 Hughes remembered as a spiritual leader While there have been public honors for Hughes – his smiling yearbook photo was displayed on the scoreboard overlooking the football field – much of the grieving in this community of about 200,000 people is playing out in private. — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 14 Mar. 2026

Verb

The organization describes one grieving family that compromised on a smaller Christmas tree placed in another room, allowing relatives who wanted to decorate to do so without changing the main gathering space. — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2026 The series showcases a town torn apart by heinous crimes, while centering Jonah, a grieving man determined to get answers by any means necessary. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 30 Oct. 2026 The grieving mom said her daughter was crossing with the light when she was struck. — Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 29 Oct. 2026 Appearing cast members include Ray Wise, unforgettable as grieving Leland Palmer. — Web Behrens, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026 Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Guillermo del Toro and Alejandro Amenábar are among those who admire his Changeling (1980), about a grieving composer (Scott) caught in a supernatural mystery involving his new home. — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2026 Its story follows a grieving widow and a struggling young mom whose unlikely connection changes after a disturbing request blurs the line between closeness and control. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 28 Oct. 2026 The film’s central relationship is more complicated than a bond between a grieving teenager and a grieving parent. — Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026 Vogelsong-Parvin, in her closing argument, contended that Nakira did not act like a grieving parent. — Anja Aronowsky Cronberg, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grieving

Adjective

And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.

— David Mamet, National Review, 11 Aug. 2022
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.

— Helen Shaw, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2021

Definition of weeping

Noun

While at the crash site on Wednesday, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared three days of national mourning, according to Politico.

— Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2026
Advertisement Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who visited the crash site, announced that his government would declare three days of mourning in response and vowed an investigation.

— Chad de Guzman, Time, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of mourning

Verb

Some women develop aching joints, headaches or pelvic pain seemingly out of the blue during perimenopause, or the menopausal transition, while others find that existing chronic pain conditions become harder to manage.

— Cheyenne Buckingham, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2026
Moments of mutual support and understanding, of belly-aching laughter and silliness, of care and deep love.

— Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of aching

Adjective

Spanning 30,500 square feet, the museum houses 19 permanent exhibits that explore everything from presidential and papal funerals to historic hearses, cremation, mourning traditions, and funeral customs from around the world.

— Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2026
Jenson launched a GoFundMe to raise money to cover funeral expenses and provide for Ty.

— Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of funeral

Verb

By the 11th game of the third set, Keys was hitting herself in the head with her racket, taking her cap off and sighing deep breaths that were either meant to steady her or out of exasperation.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026
The soundtrack—by the frequent Hans Zimmer collaborator David Fleming—is a delight, a polyphonic mood board of ghost-clangs, spooky bassoons, lyrical electro-motifs, and sighing sea themes.

— James Parker, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026

Definition of sighing

Adjective

The victim’s heartbroken father said his son had been bullied by a couple of students at the school who were recently suspended — and believes the bullying may have something to do with Javits’ murder.

— Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026
The death of Sir Patrick Stewart has left Hollywood heartbroken as his co-stars, colleagues, and fellow actors recall rare encounters, days on set, and priceless advice the acting legend shared with them.

— Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of heartbroken

Noun

Salman burst into tears on hearing the verdict, as did one of her relatives in the front row.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
Fort Worth police Officer Buddy Calzada read a letter from Everman Mayor Ray Richardson, who stood in the audience in light blue with tears on his cheeks.

— Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of tears

Cite this Entry

Style

“Grieving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grieving. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of grieving

adjective

noun

verb

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