grievously
Americanadverb
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in a way that causes or shows grief, sorrow, pain, or suffering.
There is no denying that the inmates were grievously malnourished.
The first marine he reached was grievously wounded, and his medical assistance was undoubtedly instrumental in saving the man's life.
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in a way that is flagrant or outrageous.
The accomplished actress is grievously wasted as a femme fatale who doesn't utter a single word.
The court concluded that the manager had put himself in a position in which his own private interests conflicted grievously with those of his employer.
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in a way that is burdensome or oppressive.
The energy necessary to manufacture sufficient solar collectors would itself add grievously to the global burden of pollution and greenhouse gas.
Other Word Forms
- nongrievously adverb
- overgrievously adverb
Etymology
Origin of grievously
Vocabulary lists containing grievously
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
How do grievously wounded combatants power through to achieve extraordinary feats of heroism?
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 10, 2025
These actions shocked the conscience and grievously damaged the country.
From Salon • Mar. 7, 2025
It appeared to be the first time that Mr. Goldberg-Polin, who was grievously injured in the attack, has been shown to be alive since his captivity began.
From New York Times • Apr. 24, 2024
Doughty, it turns out, grievously butchered the record to reach his conclusion.
From Slate • Mar. 18, 2024
And Ser Loras was young, prone to all the rash judgments of youth, and had been grievously wounded storming the castle besides.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
