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grievous

adjective

causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm

Quick reference

Word Facts

Word length
8
Starts with
G
Ends with
S
Contains
RI
Scrabble score
12
Database source
OEWN 2025 Core

How it sounds

Pronunciation

ɡɹiː.vəs

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Audio Pronunciation

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Meaning

Definitions

adjective

  1. causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm

    “a dangerous operation”

adjective

  1. shockingly brutal or cruel

    “murder is an atrocious crime”

adjective

  1. of great gravity or crucial import; requiring serious thought

    “grave responsibilities”

adjective

  1. causing or marked by grief or anguish

    “a grievous loss”

In context

Example Sentences

a dangerous operation
a grave situation
a grave illness
grievous bodily harm
a serious wound
murder is an atrocious crime
a grievous offense against morality
a grievous crime
no excess was too monstrous for them to commit
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
a grievous loss
a grievous cry
her sigh was heartbreaking
the heartrending words of Rabin's granddaughter

Similar words

Synonyms

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