# grievous

/ˈɡɹivəs/ (US) · /ɡɹˈiːvəs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/grievous
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

very serious, severe, or painful. It describes something that causes great suffering or harm.

For teachers: causing great pain, suffering, or severe injury; extremely serious or grave in nature. Often used in legal or medical contexts to describe physical harm or significant errors.

## Examples

- The accident resulted in a grievous injury to his leg.
- The company suffered a grievous financial loss after the main factory was forced to close.
- The judge noted that the defendant's actions constituted a grievous breach of trust, causing irreparable damage to the community's faith in the institution.

## Usage notes

- Typically used to modify nouns representing harm, such as 'injury', 'error', 'loss', or 'harm'.

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