grief-stricken

[greef-strik-uhn]

adjective

1. overwhelmed by grief; deeply afflicted or sorrowful.

grief-stricken

adjective

1. deeply affected by sorrow or distress

Word History and Origins

Origin of grief-stricken¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

The two grief-stricken men ache to be understood.

From Los Angeles Times

The MP said women who befriended Kulsuma at the refuge were "petrified" and "grief-stricken" in the wake of her death.

From BBC

That can put them on edge and heighten their separation anxiety, Langan said, and if their owners are depressed or grief-stricken about loss and uncertainty, the animals absorb those emotions too.

From Los Angeles Times

In it, the grief-stricken widow says with tears: "It is because of him that the world is still surviving. And we should all be proud of him in every way."

From BBC

But one twin's diagnosis with acrania — a rare, fatal congenital disorder characterized by the full or partial absence of cranial bones — sent Brandt's world into a grief-stricken tailspin.

From Salon

Related Words

• anguished 
• distressed 
• heartbroken 

When To Use

What does grief-stricken mean?

Grief-stricken means overwhelmed or strongly affected by grief—mental or emotional suffering or distress caused by loss or regret.It’s especially used to describe a person who is feeling intense sorrow and loss from the death of a loved one.The word stricken is the past participle of the verb strike, but it can also be used as an adjective meaning the same thing as afflicted.The word grief can also be used in the context of other situations involving loss, such as a divorce or the loss of a job, but grief-stricken is usually only used to describe those who are feeling grief due to a death. In other words, those who are grief-stricken are usually those who are grieving or mourning.Example: She was absolutely grief-stricken after the loss of her mother.