grief

Definition of griefnext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word grief different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of grief are anguish, regret, sorrow, and woe. While all these words mean "distress of mind," grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause.

the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

When is it sensible to use anguish instead of grief?

The meanings of anguish and grief largely overlap; however, anguish suggests torturing grief or dread.

the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

When would regret be a good substitute for grief?

The words regret and grief are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse.

nagging regret for missed opportunities

When is sorrow a more appropriate choice than grief?

While the synonyms sorrow and grief are close in meaning, sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse.

a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death

When might woe be a better fit than grief?

The synonyms woe and grief are sometimes interchangeable, but woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery.

cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of grief As much as his films might ebb and flow with grief and recovery, their backbone is that of a thriller. Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 3 Apr. 2026 His struggles with alcohol, grief and finding placement for the introspective tracks that would form Empty Glass all reflected this. Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 3 Apr. 2026 For many, grief is a living entity. Sam Woodward, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026 And so there was a ripple effect from me not addressing that grief and trauma; from not respecting it, and running from it, and hiding it, and masking it with alcohol. Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grief
Noun
  • Of those witnesses, only one testified to seeing Tex show any signs of sorrow.
    Lauren A. White, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Redemptive suffering Shared sorrow is a key part of Iran’s Twelver Shiite identity, which venerates the Prophet Muhammad’s family through daughter Fatima and cousin and son-in-law, Ali.
    Mary Thurlkill, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • New transparency tools aim to help travelers understand disruptions and reduce frustration during delays and cancellations.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
  • And while the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners approved covering the overrun, most of which will come from the county's unrestricted fund balance, frustration is clearly building.
    Ubah Ali, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Large statues of the Virgin Mary show her in various states of mourning, even in anguish.
    Alexis Marshall, NPR, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Without a diagnosis, people are unsure about how a condition might progress over time, and this can be a great source of anguish for both patients and their families.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Both reflect a deep passion for a particular place—Johnson’s Middle Tennessee, Hiaasen’s South Florida—and a mixture of exasperation and grief at the destruction of the natural world to make room for megamansions and toxic waste dumps.
    Francine Prose, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Lewis portrays Curator as a frustrated employee pushing against institutional norms and stagnation, balancing exasperation and displaying a knack for physical comedy.
    Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Her hands, though inflamed and covered in red sores, also had several large areas that were smooth and lacked any signs of irritation.
    Jerome Groopman, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Your Scalp May Be Irritated and Itchy Not washing your hair for extended periods of time can lead to irritation and an itchy scalp.
    Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That a website better known for racing to announce celebrity deaths and releasing videos of misbehaving reality stars has turned its eye on DC says something about the anger roiling the nation.
    Elex Michaelson, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Their last few encounters have left Dana on the brink of tears or screaming in anger at herself in the bathroom.
    Hunter Ingram, Variety, 3 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Grief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grief. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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