Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Causing or characterized by severe pain, suffering, or sorrow: Describes something that involves great distress, grief, or anguish.
   • Very serious or severe in nature: Describes something of grave importance, weight, or consequence; often implying a harmful or dangerous outcome.
   • Outrageously wrong or wicked; flagrant: Describes an act or offense that is shockingly bad, cruel, or monstrous.

Usage and Examples

• Causing grief or suffering:

  • The news of his passing was a grievous blow to the entire community.
  • She let out a grievous cry upon hearing the tragic news.

• Very serious or severe:

  • The soldier sustained a grievous injury in the battle.
  • The committee discussed the grievous implications of the new policy.

• Flagrantly wrong; atrocious:

  • The dictator was accused of grievous human rights violations.
  • Such a grievous error in judgment cannot be easily forgiven.

Advanced Usage

• "Grievous bodily harm" (GBH): A legal term in some jurisdictions for a very serious physical injury inflicted on a person.

  • The assailant was charged with causing grievous bodily harm.

• "Grievous fault": A formal or literary way to describe a serious mistake or sin.

  • He acknowledged the grievous fault in his calculations that led to the disaster.

Variants and Related Words

• Grievously (adverb): In a grievous manner; severely.
  • He was grievously wounded in the accident.
• Grievousness (noun): The state or quality of being grievous.
  • The grievousness of the crime shocked the nation.

Synonyms

• Grave: Of serious importance; solemn.
• Severe: Very great; intense.
• Heinous: Utterly odious or wicked.
• Heartrending: Causing great sadness or distress.
• Dire: Extremely serious or urgent.

Antonyms

• Trivial: Of little value or importance.
• Minor: Lesser in importance, seriousness, or significance.
• Slight: Small in degree; inconsiderable.
• Joyful: Feeling, expressing, or causing great pleasure and happiness.

Adjective

1. shockingly brutal or cruel
   • murder is an atrocious crime
   • a grievous offense against morality
   • a grievous crime
   • no excess was too monstrous for them to commit
2. of great gravity or crucial import; requiring serious thought
   • grave responsibilities
   • faced a grave decision in a time of crisis
   • a grievous fault
   • heavy matters of state
   • the weighty matters to be discussed at the peace conference
3. causing or marked by grief or anguish
   • a grievous loss
   • a grievous cry
   • her sigh was heartbreaking
   • the heartrending words of Rabin's granddaughter
4. causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm
   • a dangerous operation
   • a grave situation
   • a grave illness
   • grievous bodily harm
   • a serious wound
   • a serious turn of events
   • a severe case of pneumonia
   • a life-threatening disease