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
Trump's pardons included those convicted of attacking police officers, sometimes causing grievous injuries.
—
Susan Page, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
Quarantining healthy, low-risk populations was a grievous error, as was closing schools for two years.
—Josh Mazer, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2025
The Trump administration is trying to frame energy production as something in grievous danger, with the U.S. someone on the edge of energy insecurity.
—Erik Sherman, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
The cultural historian Barbara Ehrenreich contended that the existence of mass festivals can be a tonic for grievous states of melancholia and widespread disenchantment.
—Barrett Swanson, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grievous
Susan Page, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
Quarantining healthy, low-risk populations was a grievous error, as was closing schools for two years.
—Josh Mazer, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2025
The Trump administration is trying to frame energy production as something in grievous danger, with the U.S. someone on the edge of energy insecurity.
—Erik Sherman, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
The cultural historian Barbara Ehrenreich contended that the existence of mass festivals can be a tonic for grievous states of melancholia and widespread disenchantment.
—Barrett Swanson, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grievous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grievous
Adjective
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Nestled within denser parts of the clouds, the water would have been protected from being destroyed by harsh radiation from nearby stars, Latif said.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
12 Mar. 2025
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Smith isn’t alone in that sentiment, as other analysts and critics have shared his harsh review of Bronny’s performance in the NBA.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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For Senate Democrats, the GOP plan is painful to swallow.—
Philip Elliott,
TIME,
12 Mar. 2025
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Like witnessing a bad car crash, Ye’s (formerly known as Kanye West) latest episodes of hate speech and misogyny have been painful to watch and continue to elicit shock and dismay from every corner of the entertainment world.—
David Renzer,
Rolling Stone,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Part of this season’s focus has been on building his partnership with Murphy, whose primary attacking role is to find Isak in dangerous areas, and encouraging his team-mates to involve the striker whenever possible.—
Chris Waugh,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
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Paved highways meant dangerous going for horse and rider, and her only mishap of the trip would come at Portland, when Goldie slipped on rain-slick pavement and fell on his rider and broke her leg, resulting in a delay of several weeks.—
Ben East,
Outdoor Life,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The tragic crash led to the deaths of three soldiers who were aboard the helicopter, as well as all 60 passengers and four crew members on the commercial flight.—
Natalia Senanayake,
People.com,
10 Mar. 2025
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Because Indy has no knowledge of what is happening in the house, nor any awareness of what a haunted house even is in the first place, his reactions are scarier and more tragic than those of a human.—
Rafael Motamayor,
IndieWire,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Last year, Love penned a searing op-ed in The Guardian about the lack of female artists in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
5 Mar. 2025
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If Demi Moore wasn’t going to win for her career-reviving performance in the horror satire The Substance, then surely British voters would reward Marianne Jean-Baptiste for her searing depiction of depression in Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths.—
Sarah Crompton,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In Season 2, a cruel winter brings new challenges and unfinished business to Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara (Helen Mirren) back at Dutton ranch.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2025
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Michael, in a filmed conversation with Grace, claimed that his ex-wife had manipulated him and was cruel to Natalia.—
Fortesa Latifi,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Earlier this month, Guatemala's National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology, and Hydrology reported a major uptick in eruptions, prompting the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala to issue a warning on March 11 about hazardous conditions.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
19 Mar. 2025
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However, no hazardous weather is expected this weekend through midweek.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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With a 6-5 record in 11 games post-All Star Weekend (including 2-3 in their last five), Tom Thibodeau's Knicks have been in a bit of a rut that began before Brunson's unfortunate injury.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
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Thankfully on one unfortunate visit Puligny had a town cooperative with plenty of wine to drink and a phone number for a man with a van to return us and our bicycles to our hotel in Beaune.—
Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen,
Robb Report,
14 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grievous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grievous. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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