1
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
a harrowing portrayal of the ravages of war
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful
the harrowing amputations without any anesthetic that soldiers and sailors once were forced to endure
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in plaguing
to cause persistent suffering to
the villagers were gaunt and sickly, harrowed by years of disease and starvation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harrowing
Shelby Stewart, Essence, 20 Mar. 2025
The show offers a harrowing look at how young boys can be particularly vulnerable to this kind of messaging.
—Angela Yang, NBC News, 20 Mar. 2025
Set amidst the clearly harrowing conditions in Gaza, the Palestine FA video shows civilians making the best of their situation and the messaging is about more than just the names on a team sheet.
—Don Riddell, CNN, 19 Mar. 2025
How important has writing been to you in these harrowing periods of your life.
—Cressida Leyshon, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Adjective
In Duplicity, Lee takes on the role of Kevin, a seasoned police officer who finds himself at the center of a harrowing investigation.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 20 Mar. 2025
The show offers a harrowing look at how young boys can be particularly vulnerable to this kind of messaging.
—Angela Yang, NBC News, 20 Mar. 2025
Set amidst the clearly harrowing conditions in Gaza, the Palestine FA video shows civilians making the best of their situation and the messaging is about more than just the names on a team sheet.
—Don Riddell, CNN, 19 Mar. 2025
How important has writing been to you in these harrowing periods of your life.
—Cressida Leyshon, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harrowing
Adjective
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While that decline was painful for COST holders, the stock bottomed in mid-May, five months before the S & P 500 ultimately found its own low in October 2022.—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2025
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Like witnessing a bad car crash, Ye’s (formerly known as Kanye West) latest episodes of hate speech and misogyny have been painful to watch and continue to elicit shock and dismay from every corner of the entertainment world.—
David Renzer,
Rolling Stone,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Five years ago this week, the television industry rose to the challenge of keeping news, daytime and late-night talk shows and other topical series on the air during the harsh early months of the COVID pandemic.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
12 Mar. 2025
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Smith isn’t alone in that sentiment, as other analysts and critics have shared his harsh review of Bronny’s performance in the NBA.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The crane-hunt proposal reminds some observers of Wisconsin’s torturous experience with approving a mourning dove hunt a generation ago.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
17 Jan. 2025
-
The Lombardi is more Holy Grail than trophy, the end of what can only be described as a torturous emotional pilgrimage.—
Ali Watkins,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2025
Verb
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An audacious plan In the mid-1980s, global health agencies were otherwise occupied and heads of state largely overlooked the illness afflicting millions of their citizens.—
Sam Mednick,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Dec. 2024
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The United States now suffers from twin pathologies—one afflicting the health of its citizens and the other the health of its political system.—
Thomas J. Bollyky,
Foreign Affairs,
30 Jan. 2020
Adjective
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In Season 2, a cruel winter brings new challenges and unfinished business to Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara (Helen Mirren) back at Dutton ranch.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2025
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Michael, in a filmed conversation with Grace, claimed that his ex-wife had manipulated him and was cruel to Natalia.—
Fortesa Latifi,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Social media is filled with quips and notes about the agonizing ways in which the show nails the corporate experience.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN,
21 Mar. 2025
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Coming to grips with what happened has been agonizing.—
Christine Pelisek,
People.com,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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What could possibly motivate anyone to choose again and again to endure such excruciating pain?—
Tim Genske,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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But the end games were excruciating losses, usually in the national semifinals, once in the final, and once — just once — in the Sweet 16.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Already, court challenges against the president’s latest moves are emerging, and intense mainstream media coverage has, of course, cast what he’s done in a highly negative light.—
The Editors,
National Review,
20 Mar. 2025
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Especially in the earliest stages, when the grind will be intense. Hammond: The honeymoon period is nearly over.—
Sean Hammond,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harrowing. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.
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