grief

noun

ˈgrēf 

1

a

: deep and poignant distress caused by or as if by bereavement

his grief over his son's death

b

: a cause of such suffering

life's joys and griefs

2

a

: trouble, annoyance

enough grief for one day

b

: annoying or playful criticism

getting grief from his friends

c

: an unfortunate outcome : disaster

—used chiefly in the phrase come to grief

d

: mishap, misadventure

3

obsolete : grievance sense 2

Synonyms

• affliction
• anguish
• dolefulness
• dolor
• heartache
• heartbreak
• sorriness
• sorrow
• woe

Choose the Right Synonym for grief

sorrow, grief, anguish, woe, regret mean distress of mind.

sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse.

a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death

grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause.

the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

anguish suggests torturing grief or dread.

the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery.

cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse.

nagging regret for missed opportunities

Examples of grief in a Sentence

He has been unable to recover from his grief at his son's death.

She was overcome with grief.

the joys and griefs of our lives

I've had enough grief for one day.

Trying to fix the computer isn't worth the grief.

He's taken a lot of grief from his friends.

His friends have been giving him a lot of grief.

Recent Examples on the Web

Fox Valley Hands of Hope has provided grief support to adults, children and families in the area since 1981, with no charge for services, the release noted. —Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025

Death Takes Me, instead, suggests that personal grief and political anger can find expression, too, through ambiguity and irony—and even laughter. —Nicolás Medina Mora, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2025

But Matthew’s grief shows that even a serious prosecution can perpetuate a family’s pain. —Ariane Lange, Sacramento Bee, 11 Mar. 2025

As routines and rituals evaporated, often replaced by grief, fear and isolation, many of us wondered: When will things go back to normal? —Jenna Russell, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gref, grefe, greef, grief "hardship, distress, hurt, anger, sorrow," borrowed from Anglo-French gref "burden, molestation, wrong, hurt, hardship, calamity" (continental Old French grief), noun derivative of gref "heavy, burdensome, harsh, grievous," going back to Vulgar Latin *grevis, alteration (by association with its antonym levis "light in weight") of Latin gravis "heavy, oppressive, serious" — more at grave entry 2

Note: The Anglo-French/Old French noun could alternatively be a derivative of the verb grever—see grieve.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing grief

• come to grief
• good grief
• grief-stricken

Rhymes for grief

• beef
• brief
• chief
• fief
• leaf
• lief
• reef
• reif
• seif
• sheaf
• thief
• belief

Kids Definition

grief

noun

ˈgrēf 

1

a

: deep sorrow : sadness

b

: a cause of sorrow

2

a

: things that cause problems

enough grief for one day

b

: an unfortunate happening

the boat came to grief on the rocks

Medical Definition

grief

noun

ˈgrēf 

: deep and poignant emotional distress caused by or as if by bereavement

Although, there is no consensus on the defining features that would distinguish normal and pathological grief, it is generally accepted that grief becomes pathological when the reactions are excessive, prolonged, or unresolved.

—Jaye Wald and Rosemarie Alvaro, The Journal of Rehabilitation

also : a cause of such suffering