grievance
[gree-vuh ns]
- a wrong considered as grounds for complaint, or something believed to cause distress: Inequitable taxation is the chief grievance.
- a complaint or resentment, as against an unjust or unfair act: to have a grievance against someone.
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Origin of grievance
Synonyms
See more synonyms for grievance on Thesaurus.com1. affront, injustice, hurt, injury, distress.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for grievance
Contemporary Examples
In early October, Health Republic allowed me to submit a “grievance claim” which I filed, along with a pile of backup documents.
These were constituents with a grievance—local New York Jews, who were staging a non-violent protest to voice their concerns.
Far-Right Pro-Israel Group Rallies Against Vaunted New York Jewish InstitutionRachel Cohen
August 12, 2013
We do our cause more harm than good if we get outrageously outraged over every slight and grievance.
When the grievance committee, led by a Copé associate, declared Copé the winner again, Fillon demanded a re-vote; Copé dug in.
Since falling under Western colonial rule, the Muslim world has developed a narrative of grievance.
Historical Examples
Nor did he sink his grievance on the arrival of the Mixer a few moments later.
Ruggles of Red GapHarry Leon Wilson
He waved his arms, airing his grievance with which for an hour past he had regaled me.
As soon as the servant had withdrawn after dinner he began his grievance.
The Macdermots of BallycloranAnthony Trollope
I hope your lordship's grievance is sounder than your views of life.
Captain BloodRafael Sabatini
No longer was his grievance sentimental, theoretical or abstract.
The Lion's SkinRafael Sabatini
grievance
- a real or imaginary wrong causing resentment and regarded as grounds for complaint
- a feeling of resentment or injustice at having been unfairly treated
- obsolete affliction or hardship
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Word Origin
C15 grevance, from Old French, from grever to grieve 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for grievance
n.
c.1300, "state of being aggrieved," from Old French grevance "harm, injury, misfortune, trouble, suffering," from grever "to harm, to burden" (see grieve). In reference to a cause of such a condition, from late 15c.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with grievance
grievance
see air one's grievances.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.