Definitions

grief

[greef] / grif /

NOUN

mental suffering

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agony anguish bereavement despair discomfort gloom heartache heartbreak melancholy misery mourning pain regret remorse sadness sorrow trouble unhappiness woe worry

STRONG

affliction care dejection depression desolation despondency disquiet distress dole dolor grievance harassment infelicity lamentation malaise mortification mournfulness purgatory rue torture trial tribulation vexation wretchedness

WEAK

bemoaning bewailing deploring lamenting repining

Antonyms

STRONGEST

advantage blessing cheer comfort contentedness contentment gladness good health happiness health joy joyfulness peace pleasure relief satisfaction

STRONG

aid calm help hopefulness

WEAK

delight ecstasy exhilaration

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

His death set off waves of grief among generations of "Friends" fans who loved him as the sarcastic man-child Chandler Bing.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

No objective cutoff distinguishes ordinary worry from clinical anxiety, or grief from clinical depression.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026

There is no pat resolution to grief, she concludes.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

The film is uplifting, but it’s also about grief and isolation.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

He worried about his mother and father and the grief he had caused them.

From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Vocabulary lists containing grief

"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act I

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Emotions on Display

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act III

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!