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 shortcomings of Usman and Dvalishvili, future Hall of Famers, only point to how difficult the historic mark was to reach.

— Mark Puleo, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
The Teamsters have been enthusiastically endorsing the bill specifically because, while 40-something employers would be difficult to collectively bargain against, DSP workers would be much easier to organize once within Amazon.

— Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of difficult

Adjective

The champion faced a challenging opponent, as Garry forced him to work hard for seven takedowns and inflicted some facial damage.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
The current outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo Ebola virus, is unfolding in some of the most challenging conditions imaginable.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of challenging

Adjective

Coventry, for example, face Manchester City away in Gameweek Three, while some of the teams worth targeting early like Manchester United, Chelsea and Sunderland have tougher fixtures in Gameweeks Three or Four.

— Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
This summer has seen a confluence of challenges, including excessive heat that allows food contamination to grow and a pathogen that’s particularly tough to pin down.

— Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

Thanks to the shrinking publishing industry and dwindling writerly job market, the internet is rife with smart freelance editors, rigorous copy editors, and award-winning authors moonlighting as book doulas.

— Keziah Weir, Vanity Fair, 13 Aug. 2026
Every personal loan article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal loan products.

— Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of rigorous

Adjective

There are only a few public funders who do it, and even then, the process is arduous, and it’s not always tailored to brand new filmmakers.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026
The esteemed driver praised the team’s work in putting it together considering the process of achieving 400 mph is an arduous one.

— Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of arduous

Adjective

For the last six years, Six has lived as a recluse in Amsterdam, lying in bed and going out twice a day for decaf coffee (the regular brew is too hard on his shattered nerves).

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
That could make a huge difference in remote communities where fuel is hard to find and dependable electricity cannot be taken for granted.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of hard

Adjective

Miami entered the game riding a seven-match unbeaten streak in league play and leading MLS with 45 goals, but facing a formidable foe in Nashville.

— Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026
This one stars Cox himself as a mysterious and formidable old man in an undertaker’s suit and parson’s hat who wanders into an Arizona border town in 1890 to gather the names of dead Mexican laborers.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of formidable

Browse Nearby Words

grudgingly

grueling

gruesome

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Cite this Entry

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“Grueling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grueling. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of grueling

adjective

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