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
Comments The Challenge: All Stars Rivals crowned two champions after a grueling two-day final and a photo-finish ending.
—
Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Its first season chronicles one exceptionally grueling 15-hour shift inside an emergency room at a fictional hospital in Pittsburgh, told one hour at a time, in real time.
—Jeremy D. Larson, Pitchfork, 11 Apr. 2025
The second episode of the series sees all four main characters strongly considering quitting their residencies, almost immediately worn down by the grueling labor conditions.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 16 Apr. 2025
An ‘Extraordinary’ Day Hike: The Cactus to Clouds ascent just outside Palm Springs, Calif., is grueling, but natural treasures, and a speedy trip down, await anyone who is up to the challenge.
—Elisabeth Vincentelli, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grueling
Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Its first season chronicles one exceptionally grueling 15-hour shift inside an emergency room at a fictional hospital in Pittsburgh, told one hour at a time, in real time.
—Jeremy D. Larson, Pitchfork, 11 Apr. 2025
The second episode of the series sees all four main characters strongly considering quitting their residencies, almost immediately worn down by the grueling labor conditions.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 16 Apr. 2025
An ‘Extraordinary’ Day Hike: The Cactus to Clouds ascent just outside Palm Springs, Calif., is grueling, but natural treasures, and a speedy trip down, await anyone who is up to the challenge.
—Elisabeth Vincentelli, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grueling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grueling
Adjective
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The Whitecaps won games in Mexico, which is difficult to do.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2025
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The task for Denver tonight will be that much more difficult if Michael Porter Jr. (shoulder) is unavailable or limited.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Preserving that right to choose is what will help the Maryland economy flourish and grow during economically challenging times.—
Albert R. Wynn,
Baltimore Sun,
28 Apr. 2025
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This is likely due to high interest rates and a challenging inflationary environment.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Tuesday is when teams stage their most demanding practice ahead of a Saturday match.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Apr. 2025
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Veterinary professionals work long hours in a physically demanding job.—
Jen Reeder,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Before ultimately achieving her goal of becoming an NFL cheerleader, McNally had a long and arduous road.—
Skyler Caruso,
People.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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One of her jokes centers around her and her wife’s arduous IVF journey.—
Karla Marie Sanford,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Published in English, Tehelka had a small circulation but an outsized reputation for tough investigations.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
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However, the emotional side of living with the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be just as tough.—
Caitlin Carlson,
SELF,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Every debt-relief product review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of debt-relief products.—
Dana Miranda,
CNBC,
29 Apr. 2025
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This month, a study found that the people who’d participated in a rigorous diet-and-exercise program in the late nineteen-nineties, as Bryant did, were substantially less likely to develop diabetes decades later.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Among the Americans taking hormones are many cisgender children and teen-agers who take human growth hormone in order to grow taller, or take birth control in order to regulate their periods or avoid pregnancy.—
S. C. Cornell,
New Yorker,
2 May 2025
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Cages should be at least 4 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 May 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Grueling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grueling. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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