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 of harrowing

• 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

Much of the season finds Lestat wrestling with profound guilt, including over the death of their daughter, Claudia (played with harrowing grace by Delainey Hayles). — Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026

Big action scenes tend to be more harrowing in live action than animation, so that's something to look out for with the littles. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 July 2026

This harrowing faux-doc feels like a combination of Grey Gardens (1975), Paranormal Activity, and the Anthony Hopkins drama The Father (2020). — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026

For some Lampedusans, the experience of pulling dead bodies out of the sea has left a harrowing mark. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 6 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of harrow entry 3

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for harrowing

• narrowing