1
: causing or characterized by severe pain, suffering, or sorrow
a grievous wound
a grievous loss
2
: oppressive, onerous
grievous costs of war
grievously
adverb
grievousness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of grievous in a Sentence
the grievous cost of war
He took a foolish financial risk and suffered a grievous loss.
Recent Examples on the Web
One of them gave both me and my wife grievous sores.
—
Jay Martel, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Police arrested Dean three days later and charged him with assault causing grievous bodily harm and throwing a corrosive substance with intent to maim, burn or disfigure.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024
Eva is determined to right a grievous wrong done to her mother as soon as the opportunity presents itself.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 25 Oct. 2024
What makes the situation all the more grievous, at least for me, is that Robinson is running as an outspoken evangelical.
—David French, The Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for grievous 
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Jay Martel, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Police arrested Dean three days later and charged him with assault causing grievous bodily harm and throwing a corrosive substance with intent to maim, burn or disfigure.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024
Eva is determined to right a grievous wrong done to her mother as soon as the opportunity presents itself.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 25 Oct. 2024
What makes the situation all the more grievous, at least for me, is that Robinson is running as an outspoken evangelical.
—David French, The Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for grievous
Dictionary Entries Near grievous
Cite this Entry
“Grievous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grievous. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
grievous
adjective
griev·ous
ˈgrē-vəs 
1
: heavy entry 1 sense 2, severe
the grievous cost of war
2
: causing pain, suffering, or sorrow
a grievous wound
3
: serious sense 4, grave
a grievous mistake
grievously
adverb
grievousness
noun
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