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
Jurors heard grueling accounts from Barnes’ mother Charlie Postell, his childhood best friend and Hurricanes teammate Earl Little and Lumpkins’ best friend, Keisha Carter.
—
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
At first, giving up soda was grueling.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
The Horned Frogs have a bye next week before a grueling four-game stretch to finish the regular season.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Oct. 2025
That is when the gruelling road back to fitness began.
—Tom Burrows, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grueling
Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
At first, giving up soda was grueling.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
The Horned Frogs have a bye next week before a grueling four-game stretch to finish the regular season.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Oct. 2025
That is when the gruelling road back to fitness began.
—Tom Burrows, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grueling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grueling
Adjective
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Jens generally chooses his words carefully, and is, what’s more, particularly reticent just after finishing a long and difficult winter delivery trip; what’s a person supposed to do with words in a blizzard anyway, up on a stormy heath and all directions lost?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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In his first start in the wake of Beau Pribula’s significant injury, Zollers walked into a difficult situation, and his stat line reflected it.—
Maddie Hartley,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
What’s been the most challenging period for you?—
Kevin Cassidy,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Nov. 2025
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Getting back in shape this year proved to be more challenging than expected.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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This loss had to be especially tough for the Jayhawks, considering a controversial holding call on KU changed the momentum of the game.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
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However, their record at the Etihad makes for tough reading.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Being the greatest gymnast is a demanding job, requiring a level of physical, mental, and emotional commitment most people couldn’t handle.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
10 Nov. 2025
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Polartec® Power Shield™ Pro—Protection, Evolved Engineered for the world’s most demanding mountain athletes, Polartec® Power Shield™ Pro represents the pinnacle of shell technology, blurring the lines between hard and soft shells.—
SJ Studio,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors.—
Harlan Vaughn,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
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The Encinitas Green Business Network provides a rigorous framework for local organizations to reduce their environmental footprint through actionable, practical, and high-impact improvements.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The thousands of others impacted would have to file and administrative protest and likely face a long and arduous road to reimbursement.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
5 Nov. 2025
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In interviews with Rolling Stone prior to the resolution, Franco, Abrams, and Abernathy largely described Simmons’ apparent delay in payment as another emotional blow in the already-arduous process of legal action against him.—
Victoria Bekiempis,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Of all my books, Helm has been so hard and so lovingly written.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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Regardless, making amends with Ronnie is harder than Lilly would like.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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As the day wears on, the crowd swells to a formidable throng.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
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If host Point Loma was going to stay unbeaten and advance to the Division 1 quarterfinal with a win over Mater Dei Catholic on Friday night, Pointers head coach Ryan Price was sure his formidable defense would have a major hand in it.—
Kevin J. Farmer,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grueling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grueling. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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