1
as in harsh
difficult to endure
the months of chemotherapy seemed almost as grievous an affliction as the cancer itself
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2
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
the death of a spouse can be a grievous loss from which one never recovers
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3
as in dangerous
involving potential loss or injury
a grievous wound that requires a doctor's immediate attention
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4
as in tragic
of a kind to cause great distress
the grievous cost of the war in human lives weighed heavily on the president's mind
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grievous
He was later charged with grievous bodily harm with intent, the Metropolitan Police announced.
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Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 16 May 2025
In these last 250 years, our country has made many grievous errors, starting with slavery, which would require a bloody Civil War to end.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2025
Amidst the global rout of markets, Taiwanese energy companies’ losses were far more grievous than the worldwide average.
—Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Yet the idea that something that grievous could simply be healed or erased does not make sense in my world.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grievous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grievous
Adjective
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From adorable accents to cozy touches, drivers are increasingly looking for ways to make their commutes and grocery runs just a bit more enjoyable—perhaps to offset the harsh reality of gas prices (and everything else).—
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This garment gets exposed to harsher conditions than most clothing.—
Adjective
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The alternative — a world in which the United States and China no longer engage in trade — could be economically painful and destabilizing.—
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Appearance: The condition starts as small, extremely painful blisters on your shins (and sometimes your arms).—
Adjective
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Maddison is responsible for dropping deep and pinging passes into dangerous areas, while Kulusevski and Bergvall are excellent ball-carriers.—
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With all the drama unfolding at the Harrigan's, you could be forgiven for losing track of Harry's dangerous rescue mission.—
Adjective
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Mexicans mourned the deaths of two sailors while authorities in Mexico and New York worked to unravel the mystery of the tragic crash of the Cuauhtémoc Training Ship into the Brooklyn Bridge.—
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The social media influencer shared an emotional Instagram video featuring her three-year-old son Trigg on Mother's Day, marking her last post with him before his tragic death on May 18 following a pool incident that occurred days prior.—
Adjective
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Set in 2019 Los Angeles, Akil’s update paints a searing portrait of the issues faced by teenagers today, exploring the social media age and how, via the race-swapping of the leads, Black kids come of age in white America.—
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As one more analogous reference, the need to manage hows reminds me of great literature, in particular, Viktor Frankl’s searing memoir Man’s Search For Meaning.—
Adjective
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Scheifele’s emotional and inspirational decision to play mere hours after his father’s unexpected death — to play for his dad, to play because of his dad — ended in cruel fashion, with Scheifele helpless in the penalty box.—
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At first the program seems to be benign, but Hayakawa’s film steadily reveals how the policy thrives on the cruel capitalist tenet that people are disposable.—
Adjective
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The cities with some of the highest rates of poverty and the most people of color have borne the burden of the state’s hazardous waste facilities.—
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The broad set-up doesn’t look close to hazardous, giddy excess yet.—
Adjective
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None of his previous work has been released in the U.S., which is unfortunate because Demoustier (brother of the talented actress Anaïs) is one of those rare French filmmakers who can blend suspense with perceptive writing and characterization, resulting in artsy thrillers that dig deep.—
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The decision was so unfortunate that the NAIA felt compelled to issue an apology.—
Cite this Entry
“Grievous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grievous. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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