grievous

adjective

griev·​ous ˈgrē-vəs 

1

: causing or characterized by severe pain, suffering, or sorrow

a grievous wound

a grievous loss

2

: oppressive, onerous

grievous costs of war

3

: serious, grave

grievous fault

grievously adverb

grievousness noun

Synonyms of grievous

• harsh
• searing
• severe
• oppressive
• tough
• brutal
• rough
• hard
• cruel
• grim
• painful

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

Brown pleaded not guilty to multiple assault charges — including causing grievous bodily harm — and his trial date has been set for October, per the BBC. —Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026

This grievous and uniquely cruel injury of not knowing, of uncertainty and confusion, and answers withheld. —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Apr. 2026

That power was built up over centuries partly to compensate for the humiliation, subjugation, and grievous bondage of Russia’s history, real and imagined. —Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026

No sin is too grievous for His mercy. —Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English grevous, greveus "oppressive, burdensome, injurious, severe (of sickness, wounds)," borrowed from Anglo-French grevous, grevus (continental Old French grevos), from gref "burden, hardship, grief" + -ous -ous

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids 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