Thesaurus

harrowing

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of harrowing

1 hard to accept or bear especially emotionally

a harrowing portrayal of the ravages of war

Synonyms of harrowing

afflicting, agonizing, bitter, cruel, excruciating, galling, grievous, harsh, heartrending, hurtful, painful, tormenting, torturous

Words Related to harrowing

insufferable, insupportable, intolerable, unacceptable, unbearable, unendurable, unsupportable

appalling, awful, bad, dire, dreadful, ghastly, horrible, miserable, nasty, rotten, severe, terrible, vile, wretched

acute, extreme, intense, piercing

Near Antonyms of harrowing

bearable, endurable, supportable, sustainable, tolerable

livable (also liveable), sufferable, survivable

acceptable, allowable, reasonable

Antonyms of harrowing

gratifying, pleasing, sweet

2 intensely or unbearably painful

the harrowing amputations without any anesthetic that soldiers and sailors once were forced to endure

Synonyms of harrowing

agonizing, excruciating, racking, raging, tormenting, torturing, torturous, wrenching

Words Related to harrowing

acute, exquisite, extreme, fierce, intense, vehement, violent

biting, cutting, penetrating, piercing, sharp, shooting, smarting, stabbing, stinging, tearing, tingling

Learn More about harrowing

Dictionary: Definition of harrowing Nglish: Translation of harrowing for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of harrowing for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up harrowing? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments

WORD OF THE DAY

hoopla

excited commotion or publicity

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games