adj
Uncommon
grievous
GREE-vuhs
Grievous (adj) means Very serious or severe, especially describing harm, pain, or wrongdoing. Example: “He suffered a grievous injury in the crash.”
adj
1
Very serious or severe, especially describing harm, pain, or wrongdoing.
"He suffered a grievous injury in the crash."
"The scandal was a grievous error in judgment for the company."
How to use grievous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExtremely serious, severe, or painful — a formal word often used for injuries or wrongs.
When to use it
Fairly formal; common in legal contexts like "grievous bodily harm."
Common pairings
grievous bodily harm
a grievous mistake
grievous wound
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more grievous
- Superlative
- most grievous
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He suffered a _____ injury in the crash.
Etymology
From Old French grevous, related to Latin gravāre ("to burden") — built on the same root as "grief" and "grieve."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for grievous
See all rhymes for 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.
