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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.
The admission highlights the severe physical price paid by superstars of his era, who worked grueling schedules without the benefit of modern load management. Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025 Pereira took Tamara to weekly appointments that required a grueling overnight journey on the public bus to get from their rural residence to the city hospital. Ari Daniel, NPR, 29 Nov. 2025 The boxers go toe-to-toe in a grueling fight at the climax of the movie that results in a win for Rocky. Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025 But these days his most grueling endurance event isn’t a swim-bike-run. Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 25 Nov. 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 6 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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