1
as in harsh
difficult to endure
the months of chemotherapy seemed almost as grievous an affliction as the cancer itself
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2
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
the death of a spouse can be a grievous loss from which one never recovers
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3
as in dangerous
involving potential loss or injury
a grievous wound that requires a doctor's immediate attention
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4
as in tragic
of a kind to cause great distress
the grievous cost of the war in human lives weighed heavily on the president's mind
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grievous
Using the tee fitting wasn’t his most grievous error.
—
Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 31 May 2025
But serious crashes also occur that take lives and cause grievous injuries, even when everyone is strapped in.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2025
The most grievous use of the act was by Franklin Roosevelt who used it to intern over 100,000 Japanese Americans during World War II—without providing them with a hearing.
—Richard Stengel, Time, 23 May 2025
Paul Doyle, 53, was also charged with dangerous driving and five other counts claiming different variations of causing grievous bodily harm, Prosecutor Sarah Hammond said.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for grievous
Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 31 May 2025
But serious crashes also occur that take lives and cause grievous injuries, even when everyone is strapped in.
—Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2025
The most grievous use of the act was by Franklin Roosevelt who used it to intern over 100,000 Japanese Americans during World War II—without providing them with a hearing.
—Richard Stengel, Time, 23 May 2025
Paul Doyle, 53, was also charged with dangerous driving and five other counts claiming different variations of causing grievous bodily harm, Prosecutor Sarah Hammond said.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for grievous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grievous
Adjective
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Some of them include washing with harsh shampoos, particularly those with sulfates or alcohol; overusing scalp scrubs or clarifying products; and not washing frequently enough.—
Jamie Wilson,
Glamour,
16 June 2025
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Unlike many traditional sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate—two common culprits behind coral bleaching—reef-safe formulas skip the harsh stuff in favor of ocean-friendly alternatives that tend to also be gentler on sensitive skin.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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While battling through an injury, McDavid was held without a point in each of the last two games, including that painful 2-1 loss in Game 7.—
Daniel Nugent-Bowman,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
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In particular, three symptoms—vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, and increased urinary tract infections, hot flashes, and sleep quality—often emerge as particularly severe for breast cancer patients.—
Chloe Castleberry,
Flow Space,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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And here, the country is experiencing a profound—and dangerous—shift.—
ASHLEY J. TELLIS,
Foreign Affairs,
17 June 2025
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This vulnerability becomes even more dangerous in moments of crisis.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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This is not just the story of that tragic moment and that heinous crime.—
Samantha Balaban,
NPR,
14 June 2025
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In Variety's new profile of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery — the legendary resting place for many industry titans in Los Angeles — co-owner Tyler Cassity revealed that Yelchin's parents, Irina and Viktor, visit the actor's grave nearly every day, nine years after his tragic death at 27.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
EW.com,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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Caminero, who was hitless in his previous 17 at-bats, led off with a searing homer to left-center, hit at 109.2 mph and carrying 409 feet.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 June 2025
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Dad can whip up incredible meals with cookware that offers the searing power of stainless steel and the easy cleanup of nonstick.—
Nora Colomer
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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What is a totalitarian leader other than an individualist taking that creed to its cruel conclusions, erasing the uniqueness of every other person into mere characters in a drama?—
Ed Simon
June 23,
Literary Hub,
23 June 2025
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That first leg ended 1-0 — a slim aggregate lead — and in the second leg back on Kiwi soil, the Australians won 2-0 with one of their goals a cruel deflection.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
Adjective
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Many analysts believe that robots like the K2 are likely to complement human workers by taking over monotonous or hazardous duties, which allows people to focus on more complex, creative, or supervisory tasks.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
24 June 2025
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Researchers worldwide are already focusing on multimodal robots that can adjust to their environments and access sites too hazardous or difficult for humans to reach.—
Leslie Katz,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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Shakira does appear to be the beneficiary of an unintended consequence stemming from her unfortunate moves.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
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The stern instructor displays a remarkable amount of patience as the student bashes the unfortunate victim against every solid surface in sight — even alien beings capable of traversing the cosmos can have bad days at the office.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grievous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grievous. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
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