variants
or gruelling
1
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
running a marathon is grueling
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of grueling
Crafting such small artworks is grueling work, requiring a complete lack of disturbance.
—
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
Turbulence has defined a franchise that brought three Stanley Cups to the Windy City between 2010 and 2015, when the Blackhawks defeated the Ducks in a grueling, seven-game conference finals series.
—Andrew Knoll, Orange County Register, 28 Feb. 2025
Crosby played a grueling 19 minutes in Canada’s instant-classic overtime win against the United States on Thursday, traveled home to Pittsburgh on Friday, played 20 minutes in Saturday’s loss to Washington and then 23 minutes in Sunday’s loss to the Rangers.
—Josh Yohe, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
Despite his many health challenges, Francis is a workaholic with a grueling schedule.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grueling
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
Turbulence has defined a franchise that brought three Stanley Cups to the Windy City between 2010 and 2015, when the Blackhawks defeated the Ducks in a grueling, seven-game conference finals series.
—Andrew Knoll, Orange County Register, 28 Feb. 2025
Crosby played a grueling 19 minutes in Canada’s instant-classic overtime win against the United States on Thursday, traveled home to Pittsburgh on Friday, played 20 minutes in Saturday’s loss to Washington and then 23 minutes in Sunday’s loss to the Rangers.
—Josh Yohe, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
Despite his many health challenges, Francis is a workaholic with a grueling schedule.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grueling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grueling
Adjective
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These protein complexes are highly shape-shifting, making traditional imaging methods very difficult.—
Priyanka Naik,
The Conversation,
7 Mar. 2025
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Additionally, generative AI maintains a detailed record of its decisions, offering a level of transparency that can be difficult to achieve in human decision making.—
David Paffenholz,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Global hiring can offer a fresh solution in these challenging times.—
James Peters,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
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Probably the most significant factor is the company's ever-present pressure to accelerate, even while taking on more and more challenging tasks.—
Ryan Whitwam,
Ars Technica,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The most obvious question those holding or thinking of picking up tickets for future shows might be asking is whether Ann could still deliver some of the most demanding wailing in the rock ‘n’ roll canon at age 74, with or without the recent issues.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
7 Mar. 2025
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While lapidary work involves precise and sometimes physically demanding tasks, the CEYLONS female gem-cutting program aims to banish any and all misconceptions that such labor is unsuitable for women.—
Kyle Roderick,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Selling your home can be an arduous process—don’t overcomplicate it by taking on renovations yourself.—
Aksha Mittapalli,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Mar. 2025
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It’s filled with both arduous requirements and also results in some necessary benefits, held within a history of violence and destruction of Indigenous communities.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Schneider wants to take calculated risks in free agency, but that can be tough to do when Seattle is one of many teams needing interior offensive upgrades.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
The Athletic,
11 Mar. 2025
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The only trick: Choose a dye that’s gentle on the hair, tough on grays, and easy to apply.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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All in all, even a moderate approach was like 12-hours of rigorous cardio.—
Patricia Shannon,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2025
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Every mortgage article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of mortgage products.—
Kelsey Neubauer,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Stay away from tall, isolated trees or other tall objects.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacramento Bee,
3 Mar. 2025
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Each up to 559 miles tall and thousands of miles wide, Earth's LLVPs were first discovered in the 1980s, when geologists found that seismic waves were travelling much slower through two regions in the lower mantle than expected.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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 14 Mar. 2025.
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