definition of
grievous

[1] #1 grievous s. [dangerous, grave, serious, severe, life-threatening] causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm; "a dangerous operation"; "a grave situation"; "a grave illness"; "grievous bodily harm"; "a serious wound"; "a serious turn of events"; "a severe case of pneumonia"; "a life-threatening disease". wn

[2] #2 grievous s. [heartbreaking, heartrending] causing or marked by grief or anguish; "a grievous loss"; "a grievous cry"; "her sigh was heartbreaking"; "the heartrending words of Rabin's granddaughter". wn

[3] #3 grievous s. [grave, heavy, weighty] of great gravity or crucial import; requiring serious thought; "grave responsibilities"; "faced a grave decision in a time of crisis"; "a grievous fault"; "heavy matters of state"; "the weighty matters to be discussed at the peace conference". wn

[4] #4 grievous s. [atrocious, flagitious, monstrous] shockingly brutal or cruel; "murder is an atrocious crime"; "a grievous offense against morality"; "a grievous crime"; "no excess was too monstrous for them to commit". wn