harrowing
adjective
har·row·ing
ˈher-ə-wiŋ 
ˈha-rə-
: acutely distressing or painful
a harrowing experience
Mr. Wu's work in a coal mine was particularly harrowing.—
Charles Horner
Charles Horner
harrowingly
adverb
Examples of harrowing in a Sentence
a harrowing portrayal of the ravages of war
the harrowing amputations without any anesthetic that soldiers and sailors once were forced to endure
Recent Examples on the Web
Dozens of people were treated for hypothermia after harrowing boat rides through the perilous conditions.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
The takes often run very long; the resulting continuities of space and time unfold the choreographic splendor of the bullfighter’s work and convey a harrowing sense of no exit from the field of battle.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 24 June 2025
Two of her more recent films, Civil War and The Power of the Dog, are exceedingly dark and required her to go to some harrowing mental spaces.
—EW.com, 24 June 2025
When a harrowing incident forces Wash to flee, he is thrust into a globe-spanning adventure that challenges and reshapes his understanding of family, freedom, and love.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
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Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
The takes often run very long; the resulting continuities of space and time unfold the choreographic splendor of the bullfighter’s work and convey a harrowing sense of no exit from the field of battle.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 24 June 2025
Two of her more recent films, Civil War and The Power of the Dog, are exceedingly dark and required her to go to some harrowing mental spaces.
—EW.com, 24 June 2025
When a harrowing incident forces Wash to flee, he is thrust into a globe-spanning adventure that challenges and reshapes his understanding of family, freedom, and love.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Cite this Entry
“Harrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harrowing. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
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