1
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
a harrowing portrayal of the ravages of war
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful
the harrowing amputations without any anesthetic that soldiers and sailors once were forced to endure
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in plaguing
to cause persistent suffering to
the villagers were gaunt and sickly, harrowed by years of disease and starvation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harrowing
Maria Fontoura, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
During the 1993 Topanga Canyon fire, neighbor Sean Penn lost his home, and Madigan remembers the harrowing evacuation with her then 9-year-old, Lily.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
In a harrowing final act of blood and belief, Jo must confront the darkness itself to save what remains of her humanity.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
Another particularly harrowing video, filmed from a dashcam, captures a van worker’s perspective as flames erupt in front of the vehicle, prompting them to flee.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Adjective
For more than 50 years, the harrowing Vietnam War image, which shows a nine-year-old girl named Kim Phúc running down a road naked, her clothes burned off in a napalm attack, has been credited to an Associated Press photographer named Nick Út.
—Maria Fontoura, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
During the 1993 Topanga Canyon fire, neighbor Sean Penn lost his home, and Madigan remembers the harrowing evacuation with her then 9-year-old, Lily.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 6 Nov. 2025
In a harrowing final act of blood and belief, Jo must confront the darkness itself to save what remains of her humanity.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2025
Another particularly harrowing video, filmed from a dashcam, captures a van worker’s perspective as flames erupt in front of the vehicle, prompting them to flee.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harrowing
Adjective
-
Proper skin preparation is key to making your wax sessions less painful.—
Tatayana Yomary,
Essence,
7 Jan. 2026
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The high fevers, hospitalizations, and dehydration that these illnesses cause can be painful and disruptive—and, with vaccines, avoidable.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Warfare Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza’s Warfare is an admirable attempt to counter the truism that there’s no such thing as an anti-war movie — that all war movies, however gruesome or wrenching, effectively (and often unwittingly) wind up glamorizing combat to some degree.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
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One particularly wrenching moment in the film made an impression on her stepfather, Kurt Russell.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
21 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Both cases are apt to serve as models for how to prevent the kind of school shootings still plaguing the nation and could set legal precedent for who shoulders the blame when children have access to guns and open fire on campus.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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The Live With Kelly and Mark talk show hostess seemingly hasn't known peace on the scariest day of the year for quite some time, but not because of ghosts and ghoulies plaguing her — but, rather, ungrateful neighbors who consistently complain about her Halloween candy.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
There's a lot of harsh words and harsh things that get said about people.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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Applying it at the base of the plant before the first frost can protect the roots from harsh cold and keep the soil from freezing.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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September 22 Lucas Museum opens After a long, semi-torturous process, George Lucas’s grand vision for a public museum containing an impressive collection of paintings, drawings, and film memorabilia will finally come to fruition.—
Hillary Busis,
Vanity Fair,
22 Dec. 2025
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During this increasingly torturous adjustment period, Millie learns Nina spent some time in a psychiatric facility years earlier after allegedly leaving Cece to drown in a bathtub and taking enough pills to kill herself.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
19 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The isotopes can remain in the environment years after testing, afflicting those exposed with cancers including lung, leukemia, lymphoma, thyroid and breast, the paper says.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
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Domestic violence is a painful reality afflicting too many households in this country, which makes the words and actions of the current administration so egregious and hurtful.—
Gwen Moore,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That is unacceptably cruel, corrupt, and undemocratic.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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Instead, she was stripped of her bronze medal after a late score inquiry—a ruling that still feels cruel for an athlete who had delivered the performance of her life.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The Cincinnati Bengals have endured agonizing losses over the past two weeks, both falling late in the fourth quarter due to a defense that has struggled to make key stops.—
Cole Sullivan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
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The agonizing disease disproportionately impacts black and brown people, many of whom don’t live past their 50s and struggle with heart disease, strokes, kidney disease, and joint problems.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harrowing. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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