grueling

adjective

gru·​el·​ing ˈgrü-ə-liŋ How to pronounce grueling (audio)
variants or gruelling
Synonyms of grueling
: 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.
With no league and no roadmap, a ragtag group of players and an unlikely coach endured a grueling two-year training camp, hoping simply not to embarrass their nation at the first-ever World Cup on American soil. Brent Lang, Variety, 17 June 2026 The other four days are a grueling exercise in existential dread. Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 16 June 2026 After 90 grueling minutes of defending in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the 0-0 scoreline will count as a massive win for the debutants. Don Riddell, CNN Money, 15 June 2026 Being assistant to the president for National Security Affairs is a grueling job requiring 24/7 vigilance. Arthur House, Hartford Courant, 15 June 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 18 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

grueling

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

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