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
The film shines a harsh, and largely harrowing, spotlight on the growing waves of book bans across the nation and the roles librarians have on the front lines of literary access.
—Angele Latham, Nashville Tennessean, 16 Dec. 2025
At the same time, advocates have long criticized agencies such as the CIA and DHS for failing to provide resources, including for mental health, for Afghan soldiers transitioning to life in America after experiencing harrowing violence.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 16 Dec. 2025
O’Kane was one of nine survivors, all picked up by Japanese sailors, and his experience as a prisoner of war was harrowing.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
The watch of a Japanese hiker killed by a bear has revealed harrowing details about his last moments, including that the animal returned to his body the next day, a newspaper report said.
—CBS News, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
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Angele Latham, Nashville Tennessean, 16 Dec. 2025
At the same time, advocates have long criticized agencies such as the CIA and DHS for failing to provide resources, including for mental health, for Afghan soldiers transitioning to life in America after experiencing harrowing violence.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 16 Dec. 2025
O’Kane was one of nine survivors, all picked up by Japanese sailors, and his experience as a prisoner of war was harrowing.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
The watch of a Japanese hiker killed by a bear has revealed harrowing details about his last moments, including that the animal returned to his body the next day, a newspaper report said.
—CBS News, 12 Dec. 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 26 Dec. 2025.
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