variants
or gruelling
1
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
running a marathon is grueling
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in challenging
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention
cutting diamonds can be grueling work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of grueling
When Joan’s father abruptly dies and her mother decides to move back to America to be with her children, things become particularly grueling when the world is met with an epidemic.
—
Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
While the day trip from Cusco is a grueling eight-hour, round-trip car journey, a five-day Ausangate trek can offer a richer, more immersive experience.
—Thomas Robinson, Travel + Leisure, 22 Dec. 2025
Those new staffers quickly saw the grueling hours and how tired their coworkers were all the time.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
Alongside co-founder Mukund Tibrewala, Malik set out to automate one of the most grueling, regulated, and high-turnover corners of finance.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grueling
Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
While the day trip from Cusco is a grueling eight-hour, round-trip car journey, a five-day Ausangate trek can offer a richer, more immersive experience.
—Thomas Robinson, Travel + Leisure, 22 Dec. 2025
Those new staffers quickly saw the grueling hours and how tired their coworkers were all the time.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
Alongside co-founder Mukund Tibrewala, Malik set out to automate one of the most grueling, regulated, and high-turnover corners of finance.
—Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grueling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grueling
Adjective
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Business leaders, of course, have their own interests and shareholders to serve, but Democrats can still protect the public interest while giving CEOs a seat at the table to reach pragmatic answers to difficult questions like these.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
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Activist groups say hundreds of people have been killed, though the true toll remains difficult to verify due to the internet blackout and tight state controls on information.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But last month, Critchfield backed off in the face of a challenging state budget.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
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Depending on where in the country your family lives, winter can be a challenging time for kids who are cooped up inside amid the chillier weather.—
Mia Taylor,
Parents,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This leads to families having to make tough decisions, said Cindy Kincaid, family caregiver program manager at Centralina Regional Council.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
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She's been amazing, a sort of brutal support, tough lover, very educational.—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Philadelphia first tried the 24-year-old at center but eventually moved him to the wing, presumably because of his struggles in the faceoff circle (just 39 percent of draws won) and because the wing is a less demanding defensive position.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Both must meet demanding performance standards, operate on efficient edge-compute systems, deliver provable safety, and scale in a commercially viable way.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Every personal finance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal finance products.—
Andreina Rodriguez,
CNBC,
12 Jan. 2026
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Denim and cotton can survive in rigorous washing, while silk and wool will need a gentle washing.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But playing Banjeree required a mental one that proved even more arduous.—
Kylie Gilbert,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 2026
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Among them are more than 150 women who completed the arduous Ranger training.—
Tom Bowman,
NPR,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Shouldn’t even be that hard to sharpen the blasted thing, let alone twist it.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
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Jones raved about his consistency, intelligence, hard work and athleticism.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The service Aside from a formidable restaurant and spa, the service sets this hotel apart from other country boutiques in Sicily.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
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The hardy parasite is also highly attuned to threats and responds with formidable defense mechanisms — prolonging a treatment process that’s already months to years long and often fraught with other hurdles and pain.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grueling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grueling. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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