grievous
11 synonyms and 3 antonyms for grievous, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Very serious or severe, especially describing harm, pain, or wrongdoing.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use grievous
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
grievous bodily harm
a grievous mistake
grievous wound
Fairly formal; common in legal contexts like "grievous bodily harm."
Etymology
From Old French grevous, related to Latin gravāre ("to burden") — built on the same root as "grief" and "grieve."
Full origin of grievous →Frequently asked questions
What does “grievous” mean?
The word “grievous” means very serious or severe, especially describing harm, pain, or wrongdoing. In plain terms, extremely serious, severe, or painful — a formal word often used for injuries or wrongs.
How do you pronounce “grievous”?
“Grievous” is pronounced GREE-vuhs (/ˈɡɹiː.vəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “grievous” in a sentence?
Here is “grievous” used in a sentence: “He suffered a grievous injury in the crash.”
What part of speech is “grievous”?
“Grievous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “grievous” come from?
The word “grievous” comes from Latin. From Old French grevous, related to Latin gravāre ("to burden") — built on the same root as "grief" and "grieve.".
Is “grievous” a common word?
“Grievous” is an uncommon word in modern English.
