grieving
Aching after death
Grieving is the process of experiencing grief—the emotional response to loss, especially the death of someone close.
The word captures ongoing sorrow rather than a single moment: She's still grieving.
Someone who is grieving may feel sadness, anger, numbness, or all of these.
The grieving process or grieving period acknowledges that mourning takes time.
Cessation of life
- bereavementState following loss
- widowhoodStatus after spouse dies
- orphanedDeprived of parents
- bereftDeprived through loss
absence · void · departed · deceased · passing · tragedy · survivor · loved one
Period following loss
- bereavementState following loss
- copingManaging under strain
- stagesDistinct periods or platforms
- denialRefusal to accept reality
anger · bargaining · depression · acceptance · keening · wailing · lamenting · processing
Deep emotional distress
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- despairTotal absence of hope
- heartacheDeep emotional distress
- sadnessState of emotional pain
misery · pain · suffering · distress · torment · woe · desolation · melancholy
Service honoring the dead
- wakePath left in water
- shivaJewish week of mourning
- memorialThing preserving remembrance
- eulogyTribute for the dead
condolences · sympathy · obituary · interment · vigil · dirge · procession · visitation
Ease or soothing relief
- solaceRelief from distress
- consolationComfort during distress
- sympathyCompassionate understanding of others
- condolencesExpressions of grief support
compassion · presence · listening · community · shoulders · hugs · companionship · understanding
Stored past experiences
- tributeOffering of respect
- legacyWhat's passed down
- keepsakeItem preserved for sentiment
- mementoToken of recollection
memorial · commemoration · anniversary · photograph · reminiscence · honoring · celebration of life · candle
Regaining what was lost
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- acceptanceConsent to receive
- hopeDesire for good outcomes
- therapyCurative mental treatment
counseling · growth · restoration · renewal · peace · adaptation · transformation · support group
death
Cessation of life
- bereavementState following loss
- widowhoodStatus after spouse dies
- orphanedDeprived of parents
bereft · absence · void · departed · deceased · passing · tragedy · survivor · loved one · separation
mourning
Period following loss
- bereavementState following loss
- copingManaging under strain
- stagesDistinct periods or platforms
denial · anger · bargaining · depression · acceptance · keening · wailing · lamenting · processing · adjustment
sorrow
Deep emotional distress
sadness · misery · pain · suffering · distress · torment · woe · desolation · melancholy · loneliness
funeral
Service honoring the dead
eulogy · condolences · sympathy · obituary · interment · vigil · dirge · procession · visitation · cremation
comfort
Ease or soothing relief
- solaceRelief from distress
- consolationComfort during distress
- sympathyCompassionate understanding of others
condolences · compassion · presence · listening · community · shoulders · hugs · companionship · understanding · patience
memories
Stored past experiences
memento · memorial · commemoration · anniversary · photograph · reminiscence · honoring · celebration of life · candle · shrine
recovery
Regaining what was lost
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- acceptanceConsent to receive
- hopeDesire for good outcomes
therapy · counseling · growth · restoration · renewal · peace · adaptation · transformation · support group · self-care
- funeralsfuneral, burial, cremation, casket, coffin
- Tangihangatapu, whakapapa, mana, mourning, keening
- griefmourning, bereavement, sorrow, lamentation, sadness
- emotional expressiontone, laughing, mood, yelling, crying
- emotional releasecry, venting, crying, sob, sobbing
- lamentslamentation, wailing, keen, keening, lament
- grieving process
- grieving motherParent mourning lost offspring
- grieving parentOne mourning lost offspring
- grieving spousePerson mourning dead partner
- grieving childYouth mourning a loss
gravity, grief, grieve, aggravate, engrave, grievance, grievous, grieved, grieves