grief

noun

ˈgrēf How to pronounce grief (audio)
Synonyms of griefnext
1
a
: deep and poignant distress caused by or as if by bereavement
his grief over his son's death
b
: a cause of such suffering
life's joys and griefs
2
a
: trouble, annoyance
enough grief for one day
b
: annoying or playful criticism
getting grief from his friends
c
: an unfortunate outcome : disaster
—used chiefly in the phrase come to grief
d
: mishap, misadventure
3
obsolete : grievance sense 2

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for grief

sorrow, grief, anguish, woe, regret mean distress of mind.

sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse.

a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death

grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause.

the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

anguish suggests torturing grief or dread.

the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery.

cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse.

nagging regret for missed opportunities

Examples of grief in a Sentence

He has been unable to recover from his grief at his son's death. She was overcome with grief. the joys and griefs of our lives I've had enough grief for one day. Trying to fix the computer isn't worth the grief. He's taken a lot of grief from his friends. His friends have been giving him a lot of grief.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Jean was a widowed mother of 10, and her death resulted in a 30-year nightmare of grief and uncertainty for her kids. —Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2024 The disaster claimed the lives of 12 students and left 27 others seriously injured, forever marking the university community with grief and reflection. —Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 18 Nov. 2024 Kelsey Mora is Certified Child Life Specialist and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who provides custom support, guidance, and resources to parents, families, and communities impacted by medical conditions, trauma, grief, and everyday life stress. —Kelsey Mora, Contributor, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2024 Late Tuesday and early Wednesday, the reactions poured in, and the collective tone was one of grief for what many see as a troubling turn for America. —Okla Jones, Essence, 6 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for grief 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gref, grefe, greef, grief "hardship, distress, hurt, anger, sorrow," borrowed from Anglo-French gref "burden, molestation, wrong, hurt, hardship, calamity" (continental Old French grief), noun derivative of gref "heavy, burdensome, harsh, grievous," going back to Vulgar Latin *grevis, alteration (by association with its antonym levis "light in weight") of Latin gravis "heavy, oppressive, serious" — more at grave entry 2

Note: The Anglo-French/Old French noun could alternatively be a derivative of the verb grever—see grieve.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of grief was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing grief

Dictionary Entries Near grief

grieced

grief

griefful

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Grief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grief. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

grief

noun
ˈgrēf How to pronounce grief (audio)
1
a
: deep sorrow : sadness
b
: a cause of sorrow
2
a
: things that cause problems
enough grief for one day
b
: an unfortunate happening
the boat came to grief on the rocks

Medical Definition

grief

noun
ˈgrēf How to pronounce grief (audio)
: deep and poignant emotional distress caused by or as if by bereavement
Although, there is no consensus on the defining features that would distinguish normal and pathological grief, it is generally accepted that grief becomes pathological when the reactions are excessive, prolonged, or unresolved.—Jaye Wald and Rosemarie Alvaro, The Journal of Rehabilitation
also : a cause of such suffering

More from Merriam-Webster on grief

Nglish: Translation of grief for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of grief for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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