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
Nicole Russell, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
The true story of Ousman Umar, a young Ghanaian who survives a harrowing journey to Europe and finds hope in Barcelona.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
The flight will also mark the farthest trip by humans into deep space, potentially going up to 9,000 miles (14,500 kilometers) beyond the moon — farther than NASA's Apollo 13 astronauts flew during their harrowing, near-disastrous flight in 1970.
—Tariq Malik, Space.com, 24 Sep. 2025
The two become friends on the harrowing life-or-death walk in the Lionsgate movie, which adapts the early King story and has generated strong critical reviews.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Adjective
The stabbing of a promising young woman is tragic and harrowing.
—Nicole Russell, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
The true story of Ousman Umar, a young Ghanaian who survives a harrowing journey to Europe and finds hope in Barcelona.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
The flight will also mark the farthest trip by humans into deep space, potentially going up to 9,000 miles (14,500 kilometers) beyond the moon — farther than NASA's Apollo 13 astronauts flew during their harrowing, near-disastrous flight in 1970.
—Tariq Malik, Space.com, 24 Sep. 2025
The two become friends on the harrowing life-or-death walk in the Lionsgate movie, which adapts the early King story and has generated strong critical reviews.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harrowing
Adjective
-
Cleveland’s Progressive Field, though, has turned into Skubal’s Waterloo, the site of the two most painful and most fateful moments of his career thus far.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
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Björk's 2015 album Vulnicura tells the story of the Icelandic pop artist's emotional journey following a painful breakup with her then-longtime partner, American artist Matthew Barney.—
Chloe Veltman,
NPR,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Pearsall appeared to have reaggravated his knee injury that was plaguing him all week, and he was pulled from the game.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
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The book, some Democrats say, is exacerbating the tension that has been plaguing Democrats.—
Amie Parnes,
The Hill,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The National Nuclear Security Administration funds the sensors, which undergo rigorous shock, vibration, thermal vacuum, and prompt X-ray testing to survive launch and the harsh space environment.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Sep. 2025
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Additionally, try not to use any harsh cleaners or a really abrasive solution that may damage the surface.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The longtime actor and multi-faceted filmmaker crafts an unhinged, go-for-broke performance as a legendary quarterback putting his potential heir apparent (Tyriq Withers) through a psychologically torturous training camp.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Season 2 reveals the main characters were locked up in a torturous adult rehabilitation center, but have now been allowed to re-enroll at Godolkin University.—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Those who dismissed intersectionality saw such policies as little more than allowing the disadvantaged to commit crimes without consequences to make up for past inequities, afflicting crime victims from the same disadvantaged communities.—
John Scott Lewinski,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
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Americans live shorter lives than their European equivalents, McClatchy News reported in April, but the trend of stagnant life expectancy appears to be afflicting European nations the same, according to the study.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In a cruel exercise, each kid is provided with a pack of basic supplies and made to hike 50 miles through the wilderness to the top of Mount Otis.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
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Community leader Araya Amsalu, who helped coordinate a vigil following the shooting, said knowing Eden had gone to law enforcement about Ericksen before made the shooting feel even more cruel.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The pair endured an agonizing drive to the hospital, unsure of Lulu's status — praying the entire way.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The 69-year-old's head lowered to the Hot Topics table over an agonizing host chat.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The former human-rights lawyer entered on a tourist visa and filed for political asylum in October of that year, claiming the governments that succeeded Correa were persecuting him.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
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For 25 years, Chavism has co-opted Venezuela's infrastructure for its own enrichment, persecuting journalists and opposition, wrecking the economy, and leaving its citizens in poverty.—
Kristina Foltz,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harrowing. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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