grueling

adjective

gru·​el·​ing ˈgrü-ə-liŋ 

variants or gruelling

: trying or taxing to the point of exhaustion : punishing

a grueling race

gruelingly

ˈgrü-ə-liŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• arduous
• Augean
• backbreaking
• challenging
• demanding
• difficult
• effortful
• exacting
• formidable
• hard
• heavy
• hellacious
• herculean
• killer
• laborious
• moiling
• murderous
• pick-and-shovel
• rigorous
• rough
• rugged
• severe
• stiff
• strenuous
• sweaty
• tall
• testing
• toilsome
• tough
• uphill

Examples of grueling in a Sentence

running a marathon is grueling

cutting diamonds can be grueling work

Recent Examples on the Web

Read’s unusually successful sailing history includes winning more than 60 world and national championships, skippering three America’s Cup teams, and leading multiple grueling round-the-world Volvo Ocean Races. —The Editors, Robb Report, 8 June 2025

Many are recovering from injuries or taking a break following the grueling season in Europe. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 7 June 2025

The fastest paddlers can cross the finish line in less than two days, but most racers have several grueling nights and days ahead of them. —Morgan O'Hanlon, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2025

His grueling 10-year NBA career in the days of floppy shoes, hard hotel mattresses and unrelenting travel left Block’s body battered. —Noah Perkins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for grueling

• refueling

Kids Definition

grueling

adjective

gru·​el·​ing

variants or gruelling

ˈgrü-ə-liŋ 

: requiring extreme effort : exhausting