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

These and other recent harrowing instances of political violence prompted Assemblymember Laurie Davies, R-Laguna Niguel, to file a bill last week that would add political affiliation to the list of classifications needed to classify a hate crime in California. —Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 12 Jan. 2026

Videos making their way past Iran’s internet blackout circulated over the weekend, revealing harrowing scenes from earlier in the week. —Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026

UConn lost again during its harrowing month of January, 2023, with Hurley and associate head coach Kimani Young at home after contracting Covid. —Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 12 Jan. 2026

Traci Hurley says watching her husband battle cancer in late 2021 was harrowing. —Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of harrow entry 3

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for harrowing

• narrowing