grievance

[ gree-vuhns ]

noun

1. a wrong considered as grounds for complaint, or something believed to cause distress:

   Inequitable taxation is the chief grievance.

   Synonyms: distress, injury, hurt, injustice, affront

2. a complaint, as against an unjust or unfair act:

   to have a grievance against someone.

3. a feeling or belief that one has been wronged, oppressed, or is the victim of an injustice; resentment:

   The conflict on campus was described as the result of racial grievance or victim culture, depending on who reported it.

grievance

/ ˈɡriːvəns /

noun

1. a real or imaginary wrong causing resentment and regarded as grounds for complaint
2. a feeling of resentment or injustice at having been unfairly treated
3. obsolete.
   affliction or hardship

Other Words From

• pre·griev·ance noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of grievance¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English greva(u)nce, greva(u)ns “injury, offense, annoyance,” from Old French grevance “harm, injury, trouble, misfortune”; grieve, -ance

Word History and Origins

Origin of grievance¹

C15 grevance, from Old French, from grever to grieve ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see air one's grievances .

Example Sentences

What Trump is offering to his supporters is pretty close to pure poison — lies, grievance and division.

From Salon

"What Trump is offering his supporters is pretty close to pure poison — lies, grievance and division. But just because they voted for him doesn’t mean that his policies are going to benefit them."

From Salon

But he also believes the pro-Palestine and anti-war movements within the Democratic Party will “continue as long as the grievance remains and justice is denied.”

From Slate

“Out here, we just didn’t have the grievance vote that most of the rest of the country seemed to have,” Abshire said.

From Los Angeles Times

This anti-democratic coalition has a deep, entrenched grievance with the modern world and they use politics to express it.

From Salon

Related Words

• grief
• hardship
• injustice
• objection
• outrage
• resentment
• sorrow
• unhappiness