GRIEVANCE Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'grievance' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of grievance are injury , injustice , and wrong . While all these words mean "an act that inflicts undeserved hurt," grievance applies to a circumstance or condition that constitutes an injustice to the sufferer and gives just ground for complaint. // a list of employee grievances

Q: When is 'injury' a more appropriate choice than 'grievance'?

While the synonyms injury and grievance are close in meaning, injury applies in law specifically to an injustice for which one may sue to recover compensation. // libel constitutes a legal injury

Q: When could 'injustice' be used to replace 'grievance'?

The words injustice and grievance can be used in similar contexts, but injustice applies to any act that involves unfairness to another or violation of one's rights. // the injustices suffered by the lower classes

Q: When is it sensible to use 'wrong' instead of 'grievance'?

In some situations, the words wrong and grievance are roughly equivalent. However, wrong applies also in law to any act punishable according to the criminal code; it may apply more generally to any flagrant injustice. // determined to right society's wrongs

grievance

noun

ˈgrē-vən(t)s

Definition of grievance next

as in resentment

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

as in complaint

an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment she decided to file a formal grievance against the utility company

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun grievance contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of grievance are injury, injustice, and wrong. While all these words mean "an act that inflicts undeserved hurt," grievance applies to a circumstance or condition that constitutes an injustice to the sufferer and gives just ground for complaint.

a list of employee grievances

When is injury a more appropriate choice than grievance?

While the synonyms injury and grievance are close in meaning, injury applies in law specifically to an injustice for which one may sue to recover compensation.

libel constitutes a legal injury

When could injustice be used to replace grievance?

The words injustice and grievance can be used in similar contexts, but injustice applies to any act that involves unfairness to another or violation of one's rights.

the injustices suffered by the lower classes

When is it sensible to use wrong instead of grievance?

In some situations, the words wrong and grievance are roughly equivalent. However, wrong applies also in law to any act punishable according to the criminal code; it may apply more generally to any flagrant injustice.

determined to right society's wrongs

Examples 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 grievance Many online immediately suspected it was related to grievances against UnitedHealthcare’s insurance coverage policies. —

Jonathan Dienst, NBC News, 9 Dec. 2024 For while the mix of issues has varied from country to country, voters’ main grievances in nearly all the elections that punished incumbents were economic: stagnant or declining incomes, a lack of good jobs, and, above all, inflation. —

Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Dec. 2024 And not just for dishing out some serious Survivor 46 vibes with your personal grievances. —

Dalton Ross, EW.com, 5 Dec. 2024 Disparity in educational attainment is not men’s only point of grievance. —

Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 3 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for grievance

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grievance

Noun

This week's fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has unleashed a wave of public feeling – exasperation, anger, resentment, helplessness – from Americans sharing personal stories of interactions with insurance companies, often seen as faceless corporate giants.

TOM MURPHY and DEVI SHASTRI, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Dec. 2024
This week’s fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has unleashed a wave of public feeling — exasperation, anger, resentment, helplessness — from Americans sharing personal stories of interactions with insurance companies, often seen as faceless corporate giants.

DEVI SHASTRI, Chicago Tribune, 7 Dec. 2024