grievous Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. adjective satellite causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm
   life-threatening; dangerous; severe; serious; grave.
   
   • 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
2. adjective satellite causing or marked by grief or anguish
   heartbreaking; heartrending.
   
   • a grievous loss
   • a grievous cry
   • her sigh was heartbreaking
   • the heartrending words of Rabin's granddaughter
3. adjective satellite of great gravity or crucial import; requiring serious thought
   heavy; weighty; grave.
   
   • 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
4. adjective satellite shockingly brutal or cruel
   monstrous; atrocious; flagitious.
   
   • murder is an atrocious crime
   • a grievous offense against morality
   • a grievous crime
   • no excess was too monstrous for them to commit

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