grievous

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”

causing or marked by grief or anguish

• “a grievous loss”
• “a grievous cry”
• “her sigh was heartbreaking”
• “the heartrending words of Rabin”

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”

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”