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 grueling major season, golf professionals are finally catching their breath.
—
Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 July 2025
This year, Wisconsin plays at Alabama on Sept. 13, followed a grueling conference schedule.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 24 July 2025
The release of the CBO analysis Monday comes at the end of a grueling legislative fight, but at the start of a longer political struggle to come as the two parties clash over the law’s impact on the economy, healthcare and government programs.
—Kevin Freking, Fortune, 22 July 2025
Adding to that desire is that the chamber is hitting the tail end of a grueling six-month stretch.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for grueling
Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 July 2025
This year, Wisconsin plays at Alabama on Sept. 13, followed a grueling conference schedule.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 24 July 2025
The release of the CBO analysis Monday comes at the end of a grueling legislative fight, but at the start of a longer political struggle to come as the two parties clash over the law’s impact on the economy, healthcare and government programs.
—Kevin Freking, Fortune, 22 July 2025
Adding to that desire is that the chamber is hitting the tail end of a grueling six-month stretch.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for grueling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grueling
Adjective
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This deep understanding of local transportation patterns would have been difficult with rapid multi-city expansion.—
Tima Bansal,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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At the same time, to the extent that federal policy changes make the construction of additional renewable projects more difficult, VPPs are a way to make better use of clean energy resources that have already been built.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Taking the most challenging courses available — like AP, IB, honors, or dual enrollment classes — signals preparedness for college-level work.—
Liz Doe Stone,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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Getting the Supreme Court to take this case at all is going to be extremely challenging.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Baldwin has done it while playing the most difficult and demanding position on the diamond, mentally in terms of daily meetings and film study, and physically from the toll of working beneath pads in the summer heat and getting nicked up from foul tips, collisions and occasional wayward swings.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
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This has come as a result of America being too demanding and being very political.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The dogsledding sequences are exhilarating to watch but were arduous to shoot.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
1 Aug. 2025
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What previously consisted of a boat ride from Ille-a-Vache and then a bus ride into the capital along a main highway suddenly became an arduous journey through gang tolls, shootouts and police blockades.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
29 July 2025
Adjective
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Even if increasing competition and financial obstruction have influenced summer recruitment, making this season’s challenges tougher, the confidence in Unai Emery and Villa’s football department remains unerring.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
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The logistics of pushing autonomous vessels out into the deep Pacific is tough.—
Craig Hooper,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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While the certification was not specifically a result of litigation, pursuing rigorous, third-party validation of AI practices is increasingly viewed as an industry best practice.—
Marc Blythe,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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Every insurance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of insurance products.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Kristine’s lawyer, Evan Oshan, told the outlet that the plane’s descent was likely the height equivalent of almost two Empire State Buildings (the building is 1,454 feet tall).—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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In general, people who are taller and weigh more need additional calories than those who are shorter and weigh less.—
Jamie Johnson,
Verywell Health,
5 Aug. 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 19 Aug. 2025.
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