Synonyms of harrowing

harrowing 1 of 2

adjective

ˈher-ə-wiŋ 

1

as in painful

hard to accept or bear especially emotionally

a harrowing portrayal of the ravages of war

Synonyms & Similar Words

• painful
• harsh
• cruel
• torturous
• agonizing
• horrible
• excruciating
• terrible
• bitter
• severe
• hurtful
• awful
• grievous
• heartrending
• galling
• unacceptable
• unbearable
• dreadful
• tormenting
• afflicting
• bad
• dire
• intense
• intolerable
• appalling
• miserable
• unendurable
• ghastly
• extreme
• insufferable
• vile
• acute
• insupportable
• nasty
• wretched
• unsupportable
• rotten
• piercing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sweet
• gratifying
• pleasing
• bearable
• tolerable
• sustainable
• endurable
• survivable
• acceptable
• supportable
• reasonable
• livable
• allowable
• sufferable

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

• wrenching
• torturous
• agonizing
• excruciating
• intense
• torturing
• raging
• violent
• extreme
• tormenting
• acute
• biting
• racking
• exquisite
• fierce
• vehement
• tearing
• penetrating
• stabbing
• stinging
• sharp
• piercing
• shooting
• cutting
• tingling
• smarting

harrowing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of harrow

as in plaguing

to cause persistent suffering to

the villagers were gaunt and sickly, harrowed by years of disease and starvation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plaguing
• afflicting
• persecuting
• excruciating
• torturing
• agonizing
• anguishing
• tormenting
• besieging
• troubling
• cursing
• attacking
• bothering
• stinging
• bedeviling
• disturbing
• besetting
• racking
• striking
• distressing
• exasperating
• overwhelming
• aggravating
• annoying
• pursuing
• disquieting
• upsetting
• discomforting
• irritating
• vexing
• worrying
• harassing
• riding
• assailing
• trying
• badgering
• grieving
• perturbing
• harrying
• dogging
• hounding
• galling
• agitating
• stressing
• pestering
• stabbing
• nettling
• oppressing
• molesting
• bugging
• hurting
• irking
• rasping
• grating
• griping
• chafing
• overpowering
• crushing
• straining
• putting out
• smarting
• riling
• victimizing
• pricking
• paining
• smiting
• tyrannizing
• piquing
• wringing
• flustering
• getting
• discomposing
• hagriding
• peeving
• panging
• martyring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• helping
• assisting
• aiding
• abetting
• relieving
• delivering
• comforting
• releasing
• soothing
• consoling
• quieting
• contenting
• succoring
• solacing
• reprieving

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of harrowing

Adjective

From the new arrivals, Dresdeners heard the harrowing tales of mass rapes, murders, and atrocities perpetrated by Russian soldiers eager for revenge. — Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026

Then stick around to discover how the inclusive café is offering dignity and a seat at the table for folks from all walks of life, during both happy and harrowing times. — Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2026

Once a backdrop for harrowing rescues during Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans’ long-shuttered Charity Hospital is poised for rebirth as Louisiana marks the storm’s 21st anniversary. — Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Alexis Rowan, 27, survived the northern Arizona mountain-hike attack only because of screams that were heard by a woman in a nearby home, forcing the suspect to flee, harrowing doorbell camera footage showed. — Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026