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 After a grueling couple of days for tech stocks—propelled by drama and speculation around CoreWeave’s debt—traders bought the dip in the last 24 hours and stocks rose globally. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 After another stop from the Panther defense, North Crowley’s offense caught a spark with a grueling, relentless tempo. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2026 As 2016 neared, Thomas’ bandmates expected to reconvene for a 20th anniversary tour, however he was focused on 2015’s The Great Unknown, largely inspired by wife Marisol’s grueling health battles. — Leena Tailor, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026 The former child star, 22, is one of 15 celebrities competing on season 5 of Fox’s grueling reality competition show. — Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grueling

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grueling

Adjective

Jarman, who came in as the defending champion on the event, put together a more difficult routine but was nicked by judges for his execution.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
This is the last remaining game on the schedule that should be very difficult.

— David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of difficult

Adjective

Such calculations are part of a wider effort to understand why molecular simulations remain challenging.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
But the shift in college athletics has required an internal reconciling that is even more challenging than the external education.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of challenging

Adjective

And as routine tasks are automated, workers could lose opportunities to develop the experience needed for more demanding work.

— Lindsay Dodgson, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
The Sun enters your 12th House, drawing your attention toward rest, reflection, privacy, unfinished matters, and everything easier to hear when the outside world becomes less demanding.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of demanding

Adjective

The chemicals subject to the new policy haven’t gone through that rigorous vetting process.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026
Every insurance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of financial products.

— Liz Knueven, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of rigorous

Adjective

The dancer, choreographer, and recent MacArthur Fellow Shamel Pitts creates worlds of almost painful intimacy, in which arduous encounters leave his dancers raw, vulnerable, exhausted.

— Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2026
All of which speaks to why the NFL is understood to be a week-to-week proposition with profiles and resumes built through trials and errors over the course of the arduous season.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of arduous

Adjective

The Chiefs have a far more difficult remaining schedule (eighth hardest) than the Broncos do (27th), per DVOA data.

— Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
The hardest part is often matching the format to the problem rather than simply choosing what’s most convenient.

— Karen Koehler, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of hard

Adjective

Oscar winners Vasarahelyi and Chin’s original intent was to document the quest of Morrison and his life partner, elite ski mountaineer Hilaree Nelson, to summit the dangerous north face of Everest and ski down the formidable Hornbein Couloir.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2026
Remarkably, he’s accomplished this feat while using a 400-pound power wheelchair — navigating not just the globe but formidable accessibility barriers.

— Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 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 4 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of grueling

adjective

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