grievous

[ gree-vuhs ]

adjective

1. causing grief or great sorrow:

   grievous news.

   Synonyms: painful, sorrowful, sad, tragic, heartbreaking

   Antonyms: delightful

2. full of or expressing grief; sorrowful:

   a grievous cry.

3. characterized by great pain or suffering; severe:

   grievous bodily harm;

   a grievous injury.

4. having serious effects; grave:

   a grievous mistake;

   grievous faults.

5. extremely or shockingly wicked, cruel, brutal, etc.; atrocious:

   a grievous offense against morality;

   grievous crimes.

   Synonyms: critical, acute, onerous, harsh, brutal, heinous, appalling

6. burdensome; oppressive:

   to incur grievous expenses.

grievous

/ ˈɡriːvəs /

adjective

1. very severe or painful

   a grievous injury

2. very serious; heinous

   a grievous sin

3. showing or marked by grief

   a grievous cry

4. causing great pain or suffering

   a grievous attack

Derived Forms

• ˈgrievously, adverb
• ˈgrievousness, noun

Other Words From

• griev·ous·ly adverb
• griev·ous·ness noun
• non·griev·ous adjective
• non·griev·ous·ness noun
• o·ver·griev·ous adjective
• o·ver·griev·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of grievous¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English grevous, from Old French grevo(u)s; grieve, -ous

Example Sentences

In March 2022, Pateman was sentenced to 17 years and 10 months in prison after admitting grievous bodily harm with intent.

From BBC

Earlier this month, Mr Fleming was charged with causing grievous bodily harm on 2 November and causing criminal damage.

From BBC

Smith has developed extensive evidence of truly grievous crimes, the worst ever allegedly committed by a president.

From Los Angeles Times

He pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and was handed a 10-year restraining order, as well as being sent to prison.

From BBC

Mead also pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon - namely a hammer.

From BBC

Related Words

• appalling
• atrocious
• calamitous
• damaging
• deplorable
• dire
• dreadful
• egregious
• flagrant
• glaring
• heinous
• intolerable
• lamentable
• monstrous
• outrageous
• shameful
• shocking
• tragic
• unbearable