variants
or gruelling
1
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
running a marathon is grueling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in challenging
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention
cutting diamonds can be grueling work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grueling
In what likely will be a preview of what’s to come for the Dodgers (32-20) over a grueling portion of their schedule in the next month, the team’s fate Saturday was almost entirely reliant upon the performance of their starter.
—
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
Sunday’s race marks the longest — and arguably most grueling — race on the schedule.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 24 May 2025
Speaking candidly, the Hollywood star, Hip-Hop icon, and beauty ambassador recalled the emotional weight of that mirror scene: sitting fully nude, looking at her reflection after a grueling day in the life of the legendary jazz singer.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 23 May 2025
The drivers will travel 600 miles, completing 400 laps in what could be considered one of the most grueling races of the year.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for grueling
Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
Sunday’s race marks the longest — and arguably most grueling — race on the schedule.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 24 May 2025
Speaking candidly, the Hollywood star, Hip-Hop icon, and beauty ambassador recalled the emotional weight of that mirror scene: sitting fully nude, looking at her reflection after a grueling day in the life of the legendary jazz singer.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 23 May 2025
The drivers will travel 600 miles, completing 400 laps in what could be considered one of the most grueling races of the year.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for grueling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grueling
Adjective
-
But the fact that Schwartzman, in his first film, was given the difficult task of stealing laughs away from a comedy legend, and so often succeeds in doing so, gives him the slight edge.—
Shannon Carlin,
Time,
30 May 2025
-
The litigation in the case continues, but in the short term, many migrants will be left with difficult choices.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
Predicting how technology will change our relationship with terminology is challenging, but the need for precise scientific language, including the names of species, will never go away.—
Nicholas Green,
The Conversation,
3 June 2025
-
Read more upvotes Comment View 417 comments Dr. Melanie McCabe told Newsweek that the postpartum period can be both joyful and deeply challenging.—
Darlin Tillery,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
The nausea is now mostly in the past, Lauren says, and the Lanes are realizing that getting ready for a third child isn’t as demanding as earlier preparations.—
Nancy Kruh,
People.com,
30 May 2025
-
Work and home will be equally demanding, as Venus meets with Jupiter on June 4.—
Liz Simmons,
StyleCaster,
27 May 2025
Adjective
-
Transsexuals are people who have gone through a long, arduous process of: counseling, hormone therapy, and operations.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
28 May 2025
-
So no one has ever made a fully reusable orbital vehicle, and even the parts that have been reusable have been extremely arduous to reuse, such that the economics actually were worse than an expendable rocket in a lot of cases.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 May 2025
Adjective
-
This is a time for doing the tough, often unglamorous job of making the city function for all New Yorkers.—
Scott Stringer,
New York Daily News,
3 June 2025
-
Every day, Russia gives new reasons for tougher sanctions and stronger support for our defense.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
These days, most people delivering your forecasts are scientists with rigorous training in calculus, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, atmospheric physics and the other meteorological coursework.—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
-
The Council for Higher Education Accreditation ensures accrediting agencies uphold rigorous standards.—
Hanna Park,
CNN Money,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
The suspect is believed to be around 6 feet tall, muscular and now has an injury to his left foot inflicted by the teen who fought back, according to KSBW.—
Lesley Cosme Torres,
People.com,
26 May 2025
-
Keep a distance from tall, isolated trees or other elevated objects.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 May 2025
Adjective
-
Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.—
Alia Wong,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2023
-
Whether those numbers are an overstatement, or possibly an understatement, is hard to say.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
13 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Grueling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grueling. Accessed 8 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share