grief

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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 His horrible actions left a lot of sadness, grief and trauma to the family. Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 23 May 2025 Surprisingly straightforward and relatively inexpensive measures, researchers are learning, can make a huge difference in reducing conflict and saving bear lives and human grief. Lesley Evans Ogden, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2025 So who is to blame for this callous disregard of patient’s and her family’s grief? Brea Baker, Refinery29, 22 May 2025 Stitt's family and friends attended the sentencing, expressing their grief and emphasizing that she has never been forgotten. Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for grief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grief
Noun
  • Long time residents throughout the Bay Area and beyond will recall the shock and sorrow of Nov. 27, 1978, when White walked into City Hall and shot Milk and Moscone.
    Georgia Rowe, Mercury News, 28 May 2025
  • In fact, research has found that some animal species may indeed use wit to strengthen their bonds in the same way that many have the capacity for love, fear, sorrow, guilt, anger, shame, disgust and empathy – and that primates smile and some rats can giggle.
    Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Noun
  • Trump has expressed growing frustration with the rulings.
    Zac Anderson, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Tyler expresses frustration in hearing that from him and not from Brandon and Theresa themselves.
    Angela Andaloro, People.com, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • The victim’s scream of anguish is captured in the video.
    John Annese, New York Daily News, 26 May 2025
  • Rite of Spring is the Pièce de resistance of the exhibition and features a mass of writhing bodies morphing into each other, women giving birth, androgynous figures and figures with expressions of anguish.
    Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • Yet defeat against Arsenal — after three victories against them this season in the league and Carabao Cup — brought exasperation, if only because that story could easily have been different.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 19 May 2025
  • The families of hostages show increasing exasperation with the hardline approach of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but have shown little ability to influence official policy.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • High ozone levels are especially dangerous for children, older adults, and those with existing respiratory or heart conditions, potentially causing throat irritation, coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
  • To determine whether demodex mites are the cause of skin irritations, dermatologists can tape or lightly scrape the top layer of skin and place the sample under a microscope, Ricardo-Gonzalez said.
    Kameryn Griesser, CNN Money, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • Down encourages readers to use their righteous anger toward rebuilding a fractured world.
    Shannon Carlin, Time, 22 May 2025
  • Told in the first person, the story explores a lot of the feelings that Helen experiences: frustration and anger and love for her friend.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 21 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grief. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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