grievance
noun
griev·ance ˈgrē-vən(t)s 
1
: a cause of distress (such as an unsatisfactory working condition) felt to afford reason for complaint or resistance
Her chief grievance was the sexual harassment by her boss.
2
: the formal expression of a grievance : complaint
filed a grievance against her employer
3
obsolete : suffering, distress
Synonyms
- down [chiefly British]
- grudge
- resentment
- score
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He has a deep sense of grievance against his former employer. She has been nursing a grievance all week. In the petition, the students listed their many grievances against the university administration. Several customers came to the front desk to air their grievances.
Recent Examples on the Web The Presidential Emergency Board, a federal panel convened by President Biden to intervene to help end the labor dispute, said in its 124-page report that disputes over attendance policies are best resolved in the grievance and arbitration process. 
Esther Fung, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 It’s the ultimate triumph of the right’s politics of grievance and lies. Abdul El-sayed, The New Republic, 25 Aug. 2022 His power is built on grievance and whining and bellyaching. Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 9 Aug. 2022 Like many union contracts, the deal between the WGA East and West and CBS News outlines a grievance and arbitration process if there is a dispute over the implementation of the deal. Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 July 2022 For the Bosnian Serbs, however, this self-deception is part of a larger remaking of reality, a surge of grievance and denialism that now threatens to break the country apart. New York Times, 14 June 2022 That grievance has supercharged their long-running culture war and underlies recent moves by Republican state governments to ban certain books and censor what schools can teach about race, history and sexuality. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 Immigration and just grievance against Biden fires up the right. NBC News, 21 Aug. 2022 Is there any specific grievance to pin your suspicions on? Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2022 See More
Esther Fung, WSJ, 14 Sep. 2022 It’s the ultimate triumph of the right’s politics of grievance and lies. Abdul El-sayed, The New Republic, 25 Aug. 2022 His power is built on grievance and whining and bellyaching. Robin Givhan, Washington Post, 9 Aug. 2022 Like many union contracts, the deal between the WGA East and West and CBS News outlines a grievance and arbitration process if there is a dispute over the implementation of the deal. Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 July 2022 For the Bosnian Serbs, however, this self-deception is part of a larger remaking of reality, a surge of grievance and denialism that now threatens to break the country apart. New York Times, 14 June 2022 That grievance has supercharged their long-running culture war and underlies recent moves by Republican state governments to ban certain books and censor what schools can teach about race, history and sexuality. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 Immigration and just grievance against Biden fires up the right. NBC News, 21 Aug. 2022 Is there any specific grievance to pin your suspicions on? Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
see grieve
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Kids Definition
grievance
noun
griev·ance ˈgrē-vəns
: a reason for complaining
Legal Definition
grievance
noun
griev·ance ˈgrē-vəns
1
: a cause of distress (as an unsatisfactory working condition or unfair labor practice) felt to afford a reason for complaint or dispute
especially : a violation of a collective bargaining agreement usually by the employer
2
: the formal expression of a grievance brought especially by an employee as the initial step toward resolution through a grievance procedure see also arbitration, grievance arbitration at arbitration, mediation
grievance
noun
1
as in resentment
a lingering ill will towards a person for a real or imagined wrong this is no place to air your grievances against him Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- resentment
- grudge
- hostility
- complaint
- score
- bitterness
- condemnation
- umbrage
- malice
- animosity
- down
- spitefulness
- offence
- enmity
- malevolence
- spite
- antagonism
- dudgeon
- hatefulness
- antipathy
- offense
- pique
- maliciousness
- rancor
- spleen
- meanness
- venom
- viciousness
- peeve
- nastiness
- huff
- despite
2
as in complaint
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment she decided to file a formal grievance against the utility company Synonyms & Similar Words
- complaint
- whine
- bitch
- moan
- lament
- fuss
- gripe
- protest
- objection
- grouse
- grumble
- whimper
- squawk
- plaint
- murmur
- beef
- bleat
- carp
- wail
- whinge
- miserere
- holler
- yammer
- expostulation
- remonstrance
- challenge
- kvetch
- grouch
- demur
- quibble
- stink
- niggle
- kick
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- praise
- commendation
- compliment
- sanction
- approval
- acclaim
- plaudit
- applause
- indorsement
- endorsement
Synonym Chooser
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
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
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
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
- ninety-fourth
- ninety-nine
- ninety-nine percent of the time
- ninety-nine times out of a hundred
- ninety-ninth
- ninety-one
- ninety-second
- ninety-seven
- ninety-seventh
- ninety-six
- ninety-sixth
- ninety-third
- ninety-three
- ninety-two
- Linear A
- linear accelerator
- linear algebra
- Linear B
- linear combination
- linear content
- linear dependence
- linear differential equation
- linear equation
- linear function
- linear independence