as in gruesome
informal
causing great mental or emotional pain
gut-wrenching decisions the novel's gut-wrenching opening scene
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Recent Examples of gut-wrenching
The Alaska State Troopers Active Missing Persons Bulletins webpage shows the faces of more than 150 missing people, each with a gut-wrenching, heartbreaking story.
—
Bjorn Dihle, Outdoor Life, 4 Sep. 2025
This novel, set in Australia at the outset of World War II, is gut-wrenching.
—The Know, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
Being intubated myself while having to make this decision was gut-wrenching.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Aug. 2025
Charlotte Lawrence loves a good, gut-wrenching, sad song.
—Leah Lu, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gut-wrenching
Bjorn Dihle, Outdoor Life, 4 Sep. 2025
This novel, set in Australia at the outset of World War II, is gut-wrenching.
—The Know, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
Being intubated myself while having to make this decision was gut-wrenching.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Aug. 2025
Charlotte Lawrence loves a good, gut-wrenching, sad song.
—Leah Lu, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gut-wrenching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gut-wrenching
Adjective
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Von had been Trump-friendly before the gruesome and heartbreaking videos of the ICE raids targeting working immigrants started going viral on social media.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
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Daniels suffered his gruesome non-throwing-arm injury during the fourth quarter of Week 9's blowout loss to the Seahawks.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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As this horrific scene is being investigated, prayers on behalf of our entire International Union are with those killed, injured, and affected, including their families, co-workers, and loved ones.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
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The Washington Commanders took the brunt of criticism on Sunday after quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a horrific arm injury in the team’s 38-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Shaheed is a terrific deep threat who will absolutely provide quarterback Sam Darnold with another dependable option in the aerial attack and will make the Seahawks' offense that much more dangerous.—
Matthew Schmidt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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The Montana ski area is known for being a terrific spring-skiing spot, with the season’s best conditions coming in March and April.—
Lydia Price,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Likewise, using the military to patrol the border is not a shocking mission.—
Peter D. Feaver,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
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The numbers game was too great before Rhea Ripley made her shocking return from an injury.—
Fernando Quiles Jr,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Episode 3 confirms that this is no mere nod to another Stephen King classic, when the young Black soldier showcases his unique powers in a thrilling and terrifying sequence.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
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That is, until Episode 3, when the terrifying harlequin seems to finally appear from the pitch black depths of a crypt inside the Derry cemetery.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Is the plague in this acne-scarred nightmare an even more horrifying version of puberty?—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
10 Nov. 2025
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The horrifying reports of the massacre of hundreds of Sudanese civilians after the Darfur city of El Fasher was captured by the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) last week were the latest chapter in a brutal conflict that has killed more than 150,000 people over the past two and a half years.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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As the day wears on, the crowd swells to a formidable throng.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
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If host Point Loma was going to stay unbeaten and advance to the Division 1 quarterfinal with a win over Mater Dei Catholic on Friday night, Pointers head coach Ryan Price was sure his formidable defense would have a major hand in it.—
Kevin J. Farmer,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Because to accept Douglas Kelley's conclusions that the capacity for the most unspeakable atrocity is latent in our own reality is shockingly quotidian and perhaps too frightening to hear; a responsibility too terrible to accept and yet too prescient to ignore.—
NPR,
NPR,
11 Nov. 2025
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The 3-point shooting won’t hold, but even being around the top 10 in accuracy would make this scary Rockets squad even more frightening.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gut-wrenching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gut-wrenching. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
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