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
In a signature fashion, the Grey’s Anatomy Season 21 finale put the doctors at Grey Sloan through the wringer.
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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
Sierra Space continues to put its Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE) habitat designs through the wringer.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 24 Apr. 2025
Of your two fictional crime families, which one put you most through the wringer, emotionally, psychologically, et cetera?
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for through the wringer
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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
Sierra Space continues to put its Large Integrated Flexible Environment (LIFE) habitat designs through the wringer.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 24 Apr. 2025
Of your two fictional crime families, which one put you most through the wringer, emotionally, psychologically, et cetera?
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Feb. 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 13 Jun. 2025.
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