Grievous
Grievous adjective - Difficult to endure.
Usage example: the months of chemotherapy seemed almost as grievous an affliction as the cancer itself
Painful is a synonym for grievous in agonizing topic. In some cases you can use "Painful" instead an adjective "Grievous", when it comes to topics like severe, bitter, lamentable, excruciating. popular alternative
Painful
Painful adjective - Causing or feeling bodily pain.
Usage example: her broken arm was too painful for her to go on the trip
Grievous is a synonym for painful in agonizing topic. You can use "Grievous" instead an adjective "Painful", if it concerns topics such as bitter, distressing, lamentable, excruciating. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
-
Five Nights at Freddy's 3: Purple Guy's ultimate fate, where it is revealed he suffered a grievous, painful death and became entombed in the very same suit he used to commit his crimes, his restless ghost haunting it to this day.
Source: Becoming the Costume
Cite this Source
Painful and Grievous. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/grievous/painful
Grievous & Painful. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/grievous/painful>.
Painful or Grievous. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/grievous/painful.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "grievous" and "painful" have occurred on timeline