harrowing
adjective
har·row·ing
ˈher-ə-wiŋ 
ˈha-rə-
: acutely distressing or painful
a harrowing experience
Mr. Wu's work in a coal mine was particularly harrowing.—
Charles Horner
Charles Horner
harrowingly
adverb
Examples of harrowing in a Sentence
a harrowing portrayal of the ravages of war
the harrowing amputations without any anesthetic that soldiers and sailors once were forced to endure
Recent Examples on the Web
The sheriff learns his parents and his grandmother are alive after a harrowing escape through floodwaters.
—Jennifer Berry Hawes, ProPublica, 19 May 2025
Set in modern-day Asia, this bold reimagining of Richard Linklater’s cult classic sees three high school friends reunite, only to confront a harrowing
secret from their past.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2025
Listen to this article 3 min Scott McLaughlin had a harrowing practice experience at the Indy 500 on Sunday.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2025
That harrowing episode, which ended badly for many involved — due to tactics by Russian security services that Politkovskaya considered a betrayal — could easily sustain an entire film in itself.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
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Jennifer Berry Hawes, ProPublica, 19 May 2025
Set in modern-day Asia, this bold reimagining of Richard Linklater’s cult classic sees three high school friends reunite, only to confront a harrowing
secret from their past.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2025
Listen to this article 3 min Scott McLaughlin had a harrowing practice experience at the Indy 500 on Sunday.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2025
That harrowing episode, which ended badly for many involved — due to tactics by Russian security services that Politkovskaya considered a betrayal — could easily sustain an entire film in itself.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Cite this Entry
“Harrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harrowing. Accessed 31 May. 2025.
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