GUT-WRENCHING Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

gut-wrenching

adjective

Definition of gut-wrenching

as in gruesome

informal causing great mental or emotional pain gut-wrenching decisions the novel's gut-wrenching opening scene

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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 gut-wrenching Just gut-wrenching start to finish, and the closing moments with Rip will crush any hard-working man. — David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 May 2026 And the first step in beginning to sell real, substantive hope will require incoming Canucks leadership to make some gut-wrenching decisions while surrounding themselves with a group of advisers of the highest quality. — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 13 May 2026 Hours after that gut-wrenching loss, 25-year-old right-hander Ben Joyce pitched for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026 Ultimately, in a gut-wrenching twist, her character dies following complications from preeclampsia and severe postpartum bleeding after giving birth. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gut-wrenching

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gut-wrenching

Adjective

In a two-story warehouse on the back lot, just a few blocks away from the streets of Tumbleton, Mason gives me a tour of his prosthetics operation, which is currently abuzz with workers assembling gruesome wounds and other injuries.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
The utter carnage that follows brings major developments for all the main characters still on the chessboard — and many gruesome deaths by dragon fire, boiling oil, spikes and even catapults.

— Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of gruesome

Adjective

Gen gets to bust out her flapper dress only to witness the most horrific, awful, potentially career-destroying failure … the caviar, oysters, and bread are all crowded onto the bread plate.

— Emma Soren, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
In her very first on-screen role, Reeves brings a nuanced, brave, and deeply intuitive performance as the titular character, an eight-year-old San Francisco resident who witnesses a horrific crime and has to deal with the emotional fallout.

— Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of horrific

Adjective

Spiridakos is terrific as the no-nonsense ranger who refuses to let herself be crushed by her past or present.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
For 12 terrific seasons now, the New England Revolution has celebrated their partnership with Special Olympics Massachusetts and the incredible impact of the Rev's Unified Team.

— Juli McDonald, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of terrific

Adjective

The shocking lack of answers does not appear to be for a lack of resources, rather it highlights perceived investigative missteps along the way.

— Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 8 Aug. 2026
The shocking report was nevertheless cheered by investors, who took the weakness in the labor market as a sign that the Federal Reserve won’t hike rates in September.

— Sarah Min, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of shocking

Adjective

The monsters when finally shown in the light are more shrug worthy than creepy or terrifying.

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
The great slope of Mulholland’s concrete gravity dam in the Hollywood Hills — a model for the one that failed — was covered with dirt to disguise its terrifying height.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of terrifying

Adjective

No franchise on this list is more indebted to a single auteur (Wes Craven) and a single actor (Robert Englund), who turned the saga of Freddy Krueger into something uniquely horrifying.

— Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 8 Aug. 2026
The byproduct of eating the dessert is a little more horrifying than your typical childhood sugar rush.

— Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of horrifying

Adjective

Webber seemed the perfect fit for Golden State and Nelson, and a bigger, more athletic Warriors team seemed to have a more formidable Big Three in Webber, Owens and second-year guard Latrell Sprewell, with Mullin still on hand as well.

— Carl Steward, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026
Leykin, 19, is a formidable challenger, placing in the top five on four apparatuses.

— Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of formidable

Adjective

And what is perhaps most frightening, in those despondent moments that inevitably follow the exhilarating rush, is the realization that this enveloping abyss retains the imprint of our actions.

— Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026
The video quickly sparked a wave of reactions on social media, with many viewers expressing relief that the ride's safety restraints appeared to do their job despite the frightening ordeal.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of frightening

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gutty

gut-wrenching

guy

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“Gut-wrenching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gut-wrenching. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of gut-wrenching

adjective

Example Sentences

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