as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
modern machinery has significantly eased the backbreaking work of farming
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Recent Examples of backbreaking
Plus, large shovels hold a backbreaking amount of snow.
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James Jackson, Popular Mechanics, 18 Sep. 2019
Drawing on unprecedented research, Chang shows how these men performed some of the most dangerous, most backbreaking work to build out the railroad from California, yet received virtually no credit for their contributions.
—Chris Fuchs, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2019
Spraying fields with pesticides and fertilizers, the drones -- which can cover up to 60 acres a day -- could boost crop yields, save time and make backbreaking field work much easier, according to Bug Away.
—Sarah Lazarus and Dan Tham, CNN, 3 July 2019
Facing the possibility of major defections, a roster implosion or a backbreaking salary cap position, Brand tap-danced his way through the minefield in impressive fashion.
—Ben Golliver, The Denver Post, 3 July 2019
See all Example Sentences for backbreaking 
James Jackson, Popular Mechanics, 18 Sep. 2019
Drawing on unprecedented research, Chang shows how these men performed some of the most dangerous, most backbreaking work to build out the railroad from California, yet received virtually no credit for their contributions.
—Chris Fuchs, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2019
Spraying fields with pesticides and fertilizers, the drones -- which can cover up to 60 acres a day -- could boost crop yields, save time and make backbreaking field work much easier, according to Bug Away.
—Sarah Lazarus and Dan Tham, CNN, 3 July 2019
Facing the possibility of major defections, a roster implosion or a backbreaking salary cap position, Brand tap-danced his way through the minefield in impressive fashion.
—Ben Golliver, The Denver Post, 3 July 2019
See all Example Sentences for backbreaking
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backbreaking
Adjective
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That can be difficult for someone to get in general, especially for someone who’s never sung before.Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 7 Dec. 2024
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The day of his funeral was an incredibly difficult one for his grieving widow Barbara, their four adult children, including Kordisch Tucker, and his grandchildren.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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But living on the coast has become more challenging in recent years.Corina Knoll, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2024
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These winds can cause significant damage, increase the frequency of wildfires, and make firefighting efforts more challenging, while also posing aviation hazards and creating turbulent surf conditions.Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In a time when people approach political, social and economic issues with a different set of information and fake news is rampant, the best way to do that is to approach tough conversations with stories rather than facts.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
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The clients’ storefronts are positioned to succeed in a sometimes tough marketplace by focusing on exclusivity and quality.Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Every article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of small business products.Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 27 Nov. 2024
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Our professors rise to the occasion, working to close the gap between what should have been taught in high school and what is expected of them in a rigorous academic environment like Xavier.Reynold Verret, Fortune, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Furthermore, selling a business is extremely demanding work, so having appropriate incentives in place for the key executives of the business to be divested is imperative.Raj Sharma, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
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For the first time in our nearly 50-year history, a Black actress won our lead performance category — for an exceptionally demanding turn that only someone of Jean-Baptiste’s caliber could pull off.Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.Alia Wong, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2023
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Whether those numbers are an overstatement, or possibly an understatement, is hard to say.Lance Eliot, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
Adjective
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The Chiefs also have rookie Xavier Worthy, but the team needs another receiver on par with Hopkins to ensure the offense stays formidable.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
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By her 30th birthday, Giovanni was regularly publishing poems that tapped into the transformative power of focusing inward as a community—and working through what that meant in practice alongside formidable intellectuals such as James Baldwin.Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Caterpillars and mites have been heavy feeders; control with natural sprays.Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 30 Nov. 2024
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Snow in forecast in several states Temperatures will be below average across the Northern Plains, according to the National Weather Service, while heavy lake-effect snow will impact Michigan's upper peninsula and parts of the lower peninsula through Monday.Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 30 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near backbreaking
Cite this Entry
“Backbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backbreaking. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.
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