GRUELING Synonyms: 105 Similar and Opposite Words

grueling

adjective

ˈgrü-ə-liŋ

variants or gruelling

Definition of grueling

as in difficult

requiring considerable physical or mental effort running a marathon is grueling

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of grueling Just be mindful not to let an easy nature walk turn into a grueling hike, or an hour in the garden into an entire day of heavy landscaping. — Jenessa Connor, Health, 15 July 2026 The grueling days didn’t relent when the production moved ashore. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 July 2026 Haaland, known for his love of designer bags, also carried a white and maroon Dolce & Gabbana bag as disembarked from the plane after six grueling weeks of World Cup competition. — Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026 The Evil Dead endured a famously grueling shoot that lasted over a year due to a tiny budget, difficult living conditions, and ambitious (and relentless) practical effects. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for grueling

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grueling

Adjective

Unlike dogs, they cannot simply be taken on longer walks, often resist dietary changes, and can be difficult to medicate consistently, making GLP-1 therapies potentially attractive if clinical trials prove successful.

— Elsa Ohlen,Carolin Roth, CNBC, 18 July 2026
Their stories recount the devastation to homes and businesses, life in temporary shelters, and the difficult process of rebuilding or relocating.

— Michelle Oliva-Espinosa, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026

Definition of difficult

Adjective

The method also relies on multiple Bell tests and assumptions about independent quantum sources, which could make large-scale implementation challenging.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 18 July 2026
His 15-point first half Thursday included two threes, a high-degree-of-difficulty turnaround jumper and another challenging jumper.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026

Definition of challenging

Adjective

White, when give the chance, has displayed a diverse offensive game, a defensive bent and an ability to make tough shots.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
The stakes for new avatar don’t feel quite as high—the specific circumstances around the former was a perfect storm that'll be tough to duplicate—but the music isn’t any less potent for it.

— Lawrence Burney, Pitchfork, 16 July 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

Those efforts produced significant performance and efficiency gains for several of the laboratory’s most demanding applications.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 July 2026
Yzerman was known as a demanding, intimidating general manager who could grind players in negotiations.

— Max Bultman, New York Times, 17 July 2026

Definition of demanding

Adjective

For more than two decades, the duo hauled in more than 4 pounds of clams each morning from the lagoon in the Po River Delta — upending the notion that women were unsuited for such a rigorous job.

— Kasha Patel, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
Over the summer, kids might not have had to stick to a rigorous morning routine, but that all changes during the school year.

— Parents, Parents, 17 July 2026

Definition of rigorous

Adjective

Cole, in the 10th start of an arduous recovery from Tommy John surgery, had issued a leadoff walk to Mookie Betts.

— Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 18 July 2026
Matt Damon leads as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca on his arduous journey home, marking his third collaboration with Nolan.

— Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026

Definition of arduous

Adjective

Essentially a rock has met a hard place – at the mouth of the Persian Gulf.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Remember, all this hard work to discover all these things has been done in the midst of designing a ballroom, cleaning up the reflecting pool and a host of other busy things the president and his administration have been doing.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026

Definition of hard

Adjective

In the $200,000 San Clemente Handicap 35-1 longshot Somerset West (Armando Ayuso) outran nine other 3-year-old fillies, including three formidable challengers who shipped in from the east.

— Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026
Ohtani spearheads the game’s most formidable hypothetical October rotation.

— Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 18 July 2026

Definition of formidable

Browse Nearby Words

grudgingly

grueling

gruesome

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“Grueling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grueling. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of grueling

adjective

Example Sentences

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