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
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Recent Examples of grueling
After a gruelling campaign for the club, this was the perfect ending.
—
Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 27 May 2026
The first season was a grueling shoot.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2026
Like air travel, fast fashion, and so many indulgences of our era, drinking invites us to consider a gruelling litany of downsides and then decide whether the trade-offs are worth it.
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
The offshoot involves the search for the franchise’s next pro dancer, as 12 up-and-coming competitors move into one house and face off in a grueling audition process for a coveted Season 35 slot.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for grueling
Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 27 May 2026
The first season was a grueling shoot.
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2026
Like air travel, fast fashion, and so many indulgences of our era, drinking invites us to consider a gruelling litany of downsides and then decide whether the trade-offs are worth it.
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
The offshoot involves the search for the franchise’s next pro dancer, as 12 up-and-coming competitors move into one house and face off in a grueling audition process for a coveted Season 35 slot.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for grueling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grueling
Adjective
-
JSerra navigated a difficult regular-season schedule, then avoided upsets in the playoffs.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
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But the strength of his acidic, strong, difficult performance was too powerful for the Tonys to deny.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
Inmates challenging execution methods must suggest an alternative method.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
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Lee, who relieved fans by hitting his old high notes on night one, sounded even stronger on night two, gleefully tearing into the most challenging corners of their catalog.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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More recent air quality news Major automakers are urging the EPA to delay tougher vehicle pollution standards for two years.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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In a tough economy for local breweries, Clairvoyant has found a way to keep its heart beating.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Autonomy can absorb repetitive, lower-value, or cognitively demanding tasks so crews can focus on judgment, decision-making, and mission execution – the things humans still do best.—
Tim Burns,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
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The fuchsia tone is, of course, the most attention-demanding, and black is always a safe bet—especially for more formal events.—
Alexandra Malmed,
InStyle,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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Every small business article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of small business products.—
Jasmin Suknanan,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
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The campaign was the work of Claude Hopkins, an advertising executive with a passion for rigorous testing and measurable results.—
Julia Dhar,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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The process of counting mail-in ballots and validating voters' signatures is also arduous, as each envelope signature must match the signatures on file, which can lead to additional delays.—
Emily Chang,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
-
Council members currently use a simple majority system of five or more votes to pass new laws, but a two-thirds majority rule change of the nine Council members would make selecting an acting mayor more arduous, especially given frequent Council splits on divisive issues.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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Getting warships into the water is hard enough without wasting funds on vessels unlikely ever to sail.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
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Hulst setting a hard pace from the gun with Serna trying to hold on long enough to outkick him in the end.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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The Cuban military, once a formidable expeditionary force during Cold War campaigns in Africa, now struggles with chronic fuel shortages, aging equipment, limited mobility and poor readiness, Pérez said.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
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The elder Jackson, one of Chicago’s most famous civil rights icons, died in February and left his formidable organization to his son Yusef.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grueling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grueling. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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