GRUELLING 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

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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 Marshall’s victory sets the stage for a potentially grueling race ahead of the November election. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026 Their deaths occurred within five days of each other, as the country is gripped by a grueling spell of intense heat. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 5 Aug. 2026 Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget director is leaving, the latest shakeup of his administration’s finance team ahead of what is sure to be a grueling budget season. — Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2026 Even as Riley took jab after jab for running away from one of college football’s most prestigious rivalries, the coach remained steadfast in noting the inequity in their schedules, with USC facing Notre Dame amid a grueling Big Ten schedule. — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grueling

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grueling

Adjective

The California Board of Pharmacy in 2025 reversed course on regulations that would have made the supplement more difficult to acquire after pushback from some firefighters.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Striking out on her own was a difficult transition, but embracing her solitude gave her the space to learn more about herself and make her own personal decisions, such as getting her cat or making meals of her choosing.

— Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of difficult

Adjective

Sharing her new life on social media helped give Hoadley a sense of empowerment despite her challenging circumstances.

— Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter Carson McCullers’ remarkable debut novel tells a story of the American South, one set in Georgia and peopled with a cast of characters that exist in a rich, layered, and challenging reality.

— Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of challenging

Adjective

With men on first and third and nobody out that inning, second baseman Jackson Holliday fielded a tough grounder and threw to second, but shortstop Gunnar Henderson dropped the ball for an error and everyone was safe.

— CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
As for footwear sales in the region, the second quarter saw a slowdown of sales of high-heat product, alongside tougher comparatives and ongoing softness in end-of-cycle footwear product lines.

— Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

These quick tests reveal fine detail, dimensional accuracy, and whether the printer is over- or under-exposed, providing a consistent baseline before evaluating more demanding real-world prints.

— Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026
The squad underwent intensive work in Portugal, where players generally had one long, demanding morning session, before being given time to recover, often with yoga and massages.

— Paul Taylor, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of demanding

Adjective

Building trust requires a strong data foundation, rigorous quality standards and clear visibility into how insights are generated.

— David Tobias, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Every personal finance product review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of mortgage products.

— Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of rigorous

Adjective

Sunday’s game was the first time since Cunningham was taken down by the Sky’s DiJonai Carrington on a hard foul on a fast break earlier this month.

— Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
Other majors, such as engineering, with its extensive math requirements, have been harder to shrink.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of hard

Adjective

Banks wrote this piece as an ensemble work, not as a showcase for his formidable instrumental prowess.

— George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
So does Kevin Reddington, the formidable defense attorney who is representing Clancy in her criminal trial, taking place in Plymouth, which is being live-streamed on the Internet and heavily covered on local news.

— Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of formidable

Browse Nearby Words

grudgingly

grueling

gruesome

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Style

“Grueling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grueling. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of grueling

adjective

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