grueling

adjective

gru·​el·​ing ˈgrü-ə-liŋ 

variants or gruelling

: trying or taxing to the point of exhaustion : punishing

a grueling race

a grueling schedule

gruelingly

ˈgrü-ə-liŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of grueling

• difficult
• challenging
• tough
• rigorous
• demanding
• hard
• formidable

Examples of grueling in a Sentence

running a marathon is grueling

cutting diamonds can be grueling work

Recent Examples on the Web

The Avs, who limped into the 2026 Winter Olympics break with six wins in 15 games (6-7-2) just went 4-1 during the most grueling stretch of their schedule this year. —Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 4 Mar. 2026

Climbing uphill through the snow is physically grueling work. —Sacbee.com, 28 Feb. 2026

Availability will be just as crucial, of course, and Weathers’ spring debut is merely the beginning of a grueling marathon. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026

After four grueling years, Russia controls 20% of Ukrainian territory, chipping away at its eastern frontiers in a war of attrition that has now lasted longer than the Soviet Union’s fight against Nazi Germany. —Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 24 Feb. 2026

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