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.
While the day trip from Cusco is a grueling eight-hour, round-trip car journey, a five-day Ausangate trek can offer a richer, more immersive experience. Thomas Robinson, Travel + Leisure, 22 Dec. 2025 Those new staffers quickly saw the grueling hours and how tired their coworkers were all the time. Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025 Alongside co-founder Mukund Tibrewala, Malik set out to automate one of the most grueling, regulated, and high-turnover corners of finance. Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025 But there is a subset of outdoorsfolk who take the multi-sport concept to grueling and bizarre extremes. Outside Online, 17 Dec. 2025 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 27 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

grueling

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

More from Merriam-Webster on grueling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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