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

Ahead of what will likely be a grueling campaign if California’s controversial billionaire tax proposal reaches the ballot, a new poll paid for and touted by some of the measure’s wealthy opponents found less than 50% of likely voters support it. —Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 21 Jan. 2026

Starting and closing with both bigs presents a grueling workload for the two centers. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2026

Land Rover has now taken a high-profile step in authenticating the Defender’s pedigree at the most grueling, and prestigious, off-road race venue on the planet. —Karl Brauer, Robb Report, 19 Jan. 2026

That's a grueling road from Seattle to Los Angeles to Atlanta and back, Charlotte and back, Chicago and back, and then up to Seattle. —Mike Sando, New York Times, 19 Jan. 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