through the wringer
idiom
informal
: through a series of very difficult or unpleasant experiences
Those poor people have really gone/been through the wringer lately.
They were put through the wringer by the adoption agency.
Examples of through the wringer in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Employees of Paramount Global have been through the wringer over the last year and a half.
—
Todd Spangler, Variety, 25 July 2025
The Wolves would have to come to them in Chicago, a way for Floyd to reduce the strain on a client who had been through the wringer that week.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 11 July 2025
As Hunter and the Jaguars get set for training camp, Super Bowl champion Willie Colon said on Friday that his teammates should put him through the wringer to prepare him for what’s to come during the season.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 29 June 2025
No longer interested in enchanting us, the filmmaker puts his audience through the wringer, and his kick-ass mentality is well-served by star Tom Cruise, who lives for these sorts of full-throttle roles.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 20 June 2025
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Todd Spangler, Variety, 25 July 2025
The Wolves would have to come to them in Chicago, a way for Floyd to reduce the strain on a client who had been through the wringer that week.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 11 July 2025
As Hunter and the Jaguars get set for training camp, Super Bowl champion Willie Colon said on Friday that his teammates should put him through the wringer to prepare him for what’s to come during the season.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 29 June 2025
No longer interested in enchanting us, the filmmaker puts his audience through the wringer, and his kick-ass mentality is well-served by star Tom Cruise, who lives for these sorts of full-throttle roles.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for through the wringer
Cite this Entry
“Through the wringer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/through%20the%20wringer. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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