grievous

adjective

griev·​ous ˈgrē-vəs 

1

: causing or characterized by severe pain, suffering, or sorrow

a grievous wound

a grievous loss

2

: oppressive, onerous

grievous costs of war

3

: serious, grave

grievous fault

grievously adverb

grievousness noun

Synonyms

• bitter
• brutal
• burdensome
• cruel
• excruciating
• grim
• hard
• hardhanded
• harsh
• heavy
• inhuman
• murderous
• onerous
• oppressive
• rough
• rugged
• searing
• severe
• stiff
• tough
• trying

Examples of grievous in a Sentence

the grievous cost of war

He took a foolish financial risk and suffered a grievous loss.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Trump administration is trying to frame energy production as something in grievous danger, with the U.S. someone on the edge of energy insecurity. —Erik Sherman, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025

The cultural historian Barbara Ehrenreich contended that the existence of mass festivals can be a tonic for grievous states of melancholia and widespread disenchantment. —Barrett Swanson, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025

Hospitals treating the wounded are overwhelmed, aid agencies said, who also reported grievous crimes committed against civilians. —Nimi Princewill, CNN, 29 Jan. 2025

Nevertheless, he was convicted of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent in 2022 and was serving an eight-year term. —Selam Gebrekidan, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English grevous, greveus "oppressive, burdensome, injurious, severe (of sickness, wounds)," borrowed from Anglo-French grevous, grevus (continental Old French grevos), from gref "burden, hardship, grief" + -ous -ous

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

grievous

adjective

griev·​ous ˈgrē-vəs 

1

: heavy entry 1 sense 2, severe

the grievous cost of war

2

: causing pain, suffering, or sorrow

a grievous wound

3

: serious sense 4, grave

a grievous mistake

grievously adverb

grievousness noun