through the wringer
idiom
informal
: through a series of very difficult or unpleasant experiences
Those poor people have really gone/been through the wringer lately.
They were put through the wringer by the adoption agency.
Examples of through the wringer in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Then one week, Conan [O’Brien] had worked with a very, very hard host who had put him through the wringer.
—
Emily Longeretta, Variety, 16 June 2025
Wilson produced the experimental and boundary-pushing single using the iconic Los Angeles session players known as The Wrecking Crew, and put its veteran musicians through the wringer.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 11 June 2025
In a signature fashion, the Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 finale put the doctors at Grey Sloan through the wringer.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 15 May 2025
Southeast Asia’s startup struggles This all comes on the backdrop of an ecosystem that has been going through the wringer.
—Ernestine Siu, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for through the wringer
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Emily Longeretta, Variety, 16 June 2025
Wilson produced the experimental and boundary-pushing single using the iconic Los Angeles session players known as The Wrecking Crew, and put its veteran musicians through the wringer.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 11 June 2025
In a signature fashion, the Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 finale put the doctors at Grey Sloan through the wringer.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 15 May 2025
Southeast Asia’s startup struggles This all comes on the backdrop of an ecosystem that has been going through the wringer.
—Ernestine Siu, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for through the wringer
Cite this Entry
“Through the wringer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/through%20the%20wringer. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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