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

Other Word Forms

• grievously adverb
• grievousness noun
• nongrievous adjective
• nongrievousness noun
• overgrievous adjective
• overgrievousness 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

It is a major moment in this most grievous Gaza war.

Read more on BBC

The inquiry also heard about children who were most at risk, and suffered "grievous harm" at the hands of those who should have been caring for them.

Read more on BBC

Online retail's gain would have been English rugby's grievous loss.

Read more on BBC

Under the Offences against the Person Act, it amounts to grievous bodily harm.

Read more on BBC

In addition to the three attempted murders, he was found guilty of causing grievous harm with intent to the nine-year-old girl.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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