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
That's a relatively common decision for figure skating gold medal winners, who face a rush of media and commercial opportunities after a grueling four-year Olympic buildup.
—
CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
That’s a heavy dose of sarcasm for those who overreacted to Judge’s first few at-bats of a long, grueling season.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
His approach comes at a time when landing a job has never felt more grueling.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
But there is an undeniable magic to the start of a grueling 162-game marathon.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grueling
CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
That’s a heavy dose of sarcasm for those who overreacted to Judge’s first few at-bats of a long, grueling season.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
His approach comes at a time when landing a job has never felt more grueling.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
But there is an undeniable magic to the start of a grueling 162-game marathon.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grueling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grueling
Adjective
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Christie acknowledged that the Kings were in a difficult position given their recent schedule injury situation.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
30 Mar. 2026
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Even putting the tank on the ice was more difficult this year.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Orkin bed bug control Bed bug treatment is challenging, but something that Orkin excels at.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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Turning your attention inward can feel challenging.—
J. David Creswell,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The judge assigned to Amin’s case was Iman Afshari, known in Tehran for his tough sentences—a reputation that led the European Union to place him on a blacklist, in January, for human-rights abuses.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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Two sisters in Big Bear are facing one of the toughest moments in their lives.—
Zach Boetto,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The right answer, if there is one, has to be more demanding.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
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This high-capacity version ensures your most demanding creative assets are always instantly accessible, cementing its status as a premier, long-term investment for any mobile professional.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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No pharmaceutical company, no academic medical center, and no government agency has found the existing preclinical data compelling enough to fund a rigorous human trial in over 30 years.—
Vikas Patel,
STAT,
3 Apr. 2026
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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.—
Layla Melendez,
CNBC,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The deal followed arduous bipartisan negotiations over the last six weeks.—
Marissa Martinez,
NBC news,
27 Mar. 2026
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Post-punk bands face few gauntlets as arduous as the slow song, and Landowner challenge themselves to traverse three of them.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Sleeping positions and firmness Beyond mattress type, your preferred sleep position and mattress firmness (how hard or soft a bed feels) are other important factors to consider when buying a mattress.—
Sharon Brandwein,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
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But these funding mechanisms can be hard to understand, from school bonds and GO bonds to tax levies and earnings taxes.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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This double-digit growth positions the $98-per-year service as a formidable challenger to Amazon Prime, leaning heavily on delivery speed and new streaming partnerships.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Its missile force is formidable.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grueling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grueling. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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