1 grief | Definition of grief
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

grief

noun
\ ˈgrēf How to pronounce grief (audio) \

Definition of grief

1a : 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
2a : 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 & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about grief

Keep scrolling for more

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.
See More

Recent Examples on the Web

 When Eddie meets a tragic end, Richie is driven nearly insane with grief. — Megan Mccluskey, Time, "How IT Chapter Two Handles the LGBTQ Themes of Stephen King’s Novel," 7 Sep. 2019 Relying on a support network can be helpful in coping with grief. — Lauren Rearick, Teen Vogue, "Gigi and Bella Hadid Paid Tribute to Their Grandmother with Touching Instagram Posts," 1 Sep. 2019 Traditional camp activities are combined with therapeutic activities to help kids navigate the complex emotions that come with grief. — Rachel K. Hindery, chicagotribune.com, "Camp helps kids who have experienced loss to grieve, heal," 13 Aug. 2019 Bailey Rae’s music radiated joy while her personal life was filled with grief after her husband died in 2008. — John Adamian, courant.com, "Corinne Bailey Rae, melding jazz, poetry and soul, to play Ridgefield," 26 July 2019 The grief from Jones’ death has been overwhelming, the women said, and complicated by inconsistent or incomplete information from Baltimore Police Department. — Lillian Reed, baltimoresun.com, "Alleged robber’s family looks for clarity from Baltimore Police after his fatal shooting," 27 Aug. 2019 For many El Pasoans trying to come to terms with the mass shooting, political messaging did not speak to the depths of grief and shock reverberating through their hearts and minds. — Kayla Bartsch, National Review, "In a Community Turned Upside Down by Tragedy, ‘Thoughts and Prayers’ Are Everything," 13 Aug. 2019 The lawsuit claims that as a result of the abuse, Schmidt suffered anxiety, depression, fear, grief and stress. — Dakin Andone, CNN, "A longtime US figure skating coach has been accused of sexual abuse in a new lawsuit," 10 Aug. 2019 Some worry that the shirts profit off grief and death. — Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, "Where gun violence abounds, honoring loved ones with ‘Rest in Peace’ shirts," 10 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'grief.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of grief

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

History and Etymology for grief

Middle English gref, from Anglo-French gref, grief injustice, calamity, from gref, adjective heavy, grievous, from Vulgar Latin *grevis, alteration of Latin gravis — see grieve

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for grief

grief

noun
How to pronounce grief (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of grief

: deep sadness caused especially by someone's death
: a cause of deep sadness
: trouble or annoyance

See the full definition for grief in the English Language Learners Dictionary

grief

noun
\ ˈgrēf How to pronounce grief (audio) \

Kids Definition of grief

1 : very deep sorrow
2 : a cause of sorrow The dog was nothing but grief to its owner.

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!