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

harrowingly adverb

Synonyms

• painful
• harsh
• cruel
• torturous

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

The series sets the various human and humanoid segments of its cast on a direct course with the distinctly inhuman alien flora and fauna on the ship – there are some inventive little monsters aboard, disgusting and harrowing in their own special ways – to great effect. —Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025

Adam Johnson, The Orphan Master’s Son Set in contemporary North Korea, this epic, harrowing, and darkly funny novel follows a man caught in a totalitarian machine. —Mark Nevins, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025

Your future self might tell you a harrowing tale of the summer of 2030. —Katie Carpenter, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2025

Atkins confirmed the harrowing detail in her testimony. —Jessica Sager, People.com, 9 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of harrow entry 3

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for harrowing

• narrowing