1
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
a harrowing portrayal of the ravages of war
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harrowing
Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 3 July 2025
That group, made up of 17 high school students and two staff chaperones, landed back home at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on June 25, ending a harrowing period that included hiding in Israeli bomb shelters as war tensions reached a boil.
—Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 3 July 2025
Dozens of people were treated for hypothermia after harrowing boat rides through the perilous conditions.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
The takes often run very long; the resulting continuities of space and time unfold the choreographic splendor of the bullfighter’s work and convey a harrowing sense of no exit from the field of battle.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Adjective
Critics flooded Elektra’s comments accusing her of disrespecting her late best friend and undermining the harrowing testimony of Cassie Ventura, who accused him of abuse during their decade-long relationship.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 3 July 2025
That group, made up of 17 high school students and two staff chaperones, landed back home at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on June 25, ending a harrowing period that included hiding in Israeli bomb shelters as war tensions reached a boil.
—Ronald J. Hansen, AZCentral.com, 3 July 2025
Dozens of people were treated for hypothermia after harrowing boat rides through the perilous conditions.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
The takes often run very long; the resulting continuities of space and time unfold the choreographic splendor of the bullfighter’s work and convey a harrowing sense of no exit from the field of battle.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harrowing
Adjective
-
Their venom, similar to a bee’s or wasp’s, results in a painful, itchy pustule or blister on the skin.—
Gareth McGrath,
USA Today,
28 June 2025
-
Once Schaefer’s emotional moment was done, the rest of the conversations ranged from mildly awkward to borderline painful.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
Adjective
-
Come spring, the Ranger III carries everything from outhouses and diesel fuel for the generators to construction supplies to repair whatever damage Mother Nature did to facilities over the harsh winter.—
Diana Lambdin Meyer,
USA Today,
28 June 2025
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Yet the harshest critic is often the one in the mirror.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
Sunday ended in the rubble of a torturous eighth inning, when the Tigers went from winning 4-2 to losing 6-4 in the rubber match against the Reds.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
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Atletico only made three interceptions (PSG had 12), which was partly Diego Simeone’s game plan, but also proof of just how torturous PSG are to defend against.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
Verb
-
That’s changing this year, as three Democratic governors announced new initiatives aimed at addressing disparities afflicting boys and men.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
25 Mar. 2025
-
One key focus of these efforts should address the deficiencies afflicting the market for biologics, which are medicines made or derived from biological processes.—
Wayne Winegarden,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Politics remains a cruel business and the governor has been on the frontline of it for nearly 20 years, winning and losing.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
5 July 2025
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They were joined by actors playing the contestants, who lurched along wearing expressions of exaggerated horror, as though the cruel stakes of the game had just been revealed to them.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 July 2025
Adjective
-
Watching Spencer unravel and knowing Toby was playing this double agent game was agonizing.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
20 June 2025
-
White survived, but watched countless peers and loved ones suffer agonizing deaths.—
Hillel Italie,
Chicago Tribune,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
Simon’s excruciating back pain previously forced him to cancel his June 27 and 28 shows in Philadelphia.—
Rachel Flynn,
People.com,
3 July 2025
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After cutting edge surgery Angela Sutphin is without excruciating pain in her right arm and can get a full night’s sleep.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
Anybody who thought Messi would rest after the intense international tournament does not know Messi.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
6 July 2025
-
During the 1995 heat wave, many of the casualties were seniors who didn’t have family or neighbors to check in on them, especially those living in high-rise buildings where the heat was particularly intense.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
6 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harrowing. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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