grievous

adjective

1. 1

   causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm

   a dangerous operation

   a grave situation

2. 2

   shockingly brutal or cruel

   murder is an atrocious crime

   a grievous offense against morality

3. 3

   of great gravity or crucial import; requiring serious thought

   grave responsibilities

   faced a grave decision in a time of crisis

4. 4

   causing or marked by grief or anguish

   a grievous loss

   a grievous cry