gut-wrenching

adjective

gut-wrench·​ing ˈgət-ˌren-chiŋ How to pronounce gut-wrenching (audio)
: causing mental or emotional anguish

Examples of gut-wrenching in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The collapse in the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza has produced gut-wrenching outcomes: Children dying of malnourishment, desperately hungry Palestinians rushing aid trucks to feed their families, and on Thursday morning, scores killed trying to access aid from a convoy going into Gaza City. Npr Washington Desk, NPR, 5 Mar. 2024 Luckily, casting director Rachel Sheridan had seen Mod's gut-wrenching breakout performance in the 2022 BBC One medical dramedy This Is Going to Hurt and chased after the actor long enough for Mod to come to her senses. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 4 Mar. 2024 Returning to the courtroom after sitting through the gut-wrenching school shooting video, jurors were shown a video of James and Jennifer Crumbley handcuffed in the back of a patrol car, venting about what was happening. Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 23 Feb. 2024 Her ethereal sound reflects gut-wrenching stories of heartbreak. Victoria Hernandez, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2024 In gut-wrenching video captured by NBC News’ team on the ground, the grieving dad can be seen tearing open the shroud that enveloped Tala’s lifeless body as she was laid in her grave. Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 20 Jan. 2024 Each time some buildings have to be demolished, while others at the very least undergo a major costly renovation, only to have to go through the same gut-wrenching process a few decades later. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 10 Feb. 2024 Se7en's gut-wrenching plot twist will leave viewers with goosebumps, but here's where the real chills crawl up the spine: Denzel Washington passed on the part of David Mills. EW.com, 16 Oct. 2023 Some orchestral luminosity and transparency was lost, but there was gut-wrenching deep bass, and the brass and percussion were especially potent. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gut-wrenching.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gut-wrenching was in 1972

Dictionary Entries Near gut-wrenching

Cite this Entry

“Gut-wrenching.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gut-wrenching. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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