grueling

adjective

gru·​el·​ing ˈgrü-ə-liŋ How to pronounce grueling (audio)
variants or gruelling
Synonyms of gruelingnext
: trying or taxing to the point of exhaustion : punishing
a grueling race
a grueling schedule
gruelingly adverb

Examples of grueling in a Sentence

running a marathon is grueling cutting diamonds can be grueling work
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
After his teenage son goes missing, Daniel combs the depths of the Vistula River day and night, caught in a grueling, endless routine and torn between the dread of a fatal leap and the fragile hope that his son may still be alive. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 6 May 2026 That was a grueling battle, and every game was tight. David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026 As much as $50,000, plus thousands more for IVF, which is physically grueling and carries risks. Rob Stein, NPR, 6 May 2026 The Sixers, only two days removed from completing a 3-1 series comeback with a grueling Game 7 road win against the Boston Celtics, shot just 41 percent. Tony Jones, New York Times, 5 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for grueling

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of obsolete gruel to exhaust, punish, from gruel, noun

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of grueling was in 1852

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grueling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grueling. Accessed 11 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

grueling

adjective
gru·​el·​ing
variants or gruelling
: requiring extreme effort : exhausting

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