Synonym Chooser

How does the noun grievance contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of grievance are injury, injustice, and wrong. While all these words mean "an act that inflicts undeserved hurt," grievance applies to a circumstance or condition that constitutes an injustice to the sufferer and gives just ground for complaint.

a list of employee grievances

When is injury a more appropriate choice than grievance?

While the synonyms injury and grievance are close in meaning, injury applies in law specifically to an injustice for which one may sue to recover compensation.

libel constitutes a legal injury

When could injustice be used to replace grievance?

The words injustice and grievance can be used in similar contexts, but injustice applies to any act that involves unfairness to another or violation of one's rights.

the injustices suffered by the lower classes

When is it sensible to use wrong instead of grievance?

In some situations, the words wrong and grievance are roughly equivalent. However, wrong applies also in law to any act punishable according to the criminal code; it may apply more generally to any flagrant injustice.

determined to right society's wrongs

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 grievance The bill also allows for a student or parent to file a grievance if a college isn’t following the law. Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025 For all of this, any denial of the genuine nature of the grievances of the demonstrators, and most importantly their belief that if Hamas leaves the governance scene, the war might stop and life might improve, is misplaced and reflects serious miscalculation. Khalil Shikaki, Time, 2 Apr. 2025 But far from decapitating the far right, this ruling – that followed a guilty verdict on embezzlement charges – could actually strengthen it by fueling populist grievances and accelerating the rebranding of Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) party. Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2025 The source who spoke with PEOPLE insists that the dispute stems from governance concerns, not personal grievances. Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grievance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grievance
Noun
  • Without enough time to truly know each other’s habits, values and communication styles, small annoyances can snowball into deeper resentment.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Meanwhile, in their first Netflix series, Meghan expressed her resentment over that being the big takeaway from the Oprah interview instead of her mental health revelations.
    Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The recall began after a consumer made a complaint about the cans containing cashews.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Actually 2 questions: 1) Do race fans, reporters, and aficionados accept vague whiny complaints from the drivers about how the car is to blame without demanding some type of backup?
    Luke Smith, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • An armed man accused of walking into a Walgreens location in California and shooting an employee to death this week allegedly had a grudge against corporate pharmacies, police said.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Theater owners gathered inside the Colosseum Theater at Caesar’s Palace on Monday didn’t seem to hold any grudges, and gave a warm welcome to the exec.
    Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The motor produces a whine that is noticeable but not distracting.
    William Roberson, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Israel Hernandez heard the faint whine of sirens outside his Wilmington apartment and looked up just in time to see a minivan crash into another vehicle as police gave chase.
    Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The actress kept the rest of her look fairly minimalist, opting for a sleek, modern style without fuss.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 4 Apr. 2025
  • So is Aaron Judge, who couldn’t believe all the fuss that was being made over the Yankees’ new wood.
    Gary Phillips, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • None of these moans are intended to dismiss the importance of clever in-jokes and references to past adventures.
    Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 Feb. 2025
  • Tonally registering as if carved from a medium-hard piece of oak, his transparent deliveries — mellow whispers, conversational assertions, longing moans, resolute cries — served as effective vessels for those character sketches and autobiographical reflections.
    Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Grievance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grievance. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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