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
Mark Stewart, Baltimore Sun, 5 May 2025
The harrowing incident was famously captured on newsreel and in a number of photographs.
—John Otis, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Kesler, who worked for the couple for 16 years, made the harrowing 911 call.
—Tracy Wright , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2025
The scene is harrowing and poignant, two strangers trying their damndest to save a dying man on a cold, wet sidewalk.
—Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Adjective
So why does Ifrah want Maryland to go down the harrowing road of iGaming?
—Mark Stewart, Baltimore Sun, 5 May 2025
The harrowing incident was famously captured on newsreel and in a number of photographs.
—John Otis, New York Times, 3 May 2025
Kesler, who worked for the couple for 16 years, made the harrowing 911 call.
—Tracy Wright , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2025
The scene is harrowing and poignant, two strangers trying their damndest to save a dying man on a cold, wet sidewalk.
—Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harrowing
Adjective
-
The alternative — a world in which the United States and China no longer engage in trade — could be economically painful and destabilizing.—
Alan Rappeport,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
-
Appearance: The condition starts as small, extremely painful blisters on your shins (and sometimes your arms).—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
This garment gets exposed to harsher conditions than most clothing.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 May 2025
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More precipitation in these locations could make up for the harsh cold season.—
Jordan-Marie Smith,
NPR,
11 May 2025
Adjective
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The torturous clobbering comes after Joel saves Abby from infected hordes and is coldly executed in front of his surrogate daughter, Ellie (Bella Ramsey).—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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One of the hardest parts is her daily growth-hormone injections—a torturous process for everyone involved.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 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
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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
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Scheifele’s emotional and inspirational decision to play mere hours after his father’s unexpected death — to play for his dad, to play because of his dad — ended in cruel fashion, with Scheifele helpless in the penalty box.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
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At first the program seems to be benign, but Hayakawa’s film steadily reveals how the policy thrives on the cruel capitalist tenet that people are disposable.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
Bear markets can be agonizing, but overall, markets are positive more often than not.—
Wes Moss,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
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But most of the buzz centers on the will-they-won’t-they romance of Staten (Duhamel) and Quinn (Kelly), who is agonizing over whether to leave Texas behind to pursue her musical dreams in New York.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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After two years…of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation therapy, of surgery, excruciating pain, the incredible amount of prescription drugs, and all the fervent prayers, my incredible, loving wife succumbed to the aggressive HER2 Triple-Negative breast cancer.—
Clarence Schmidt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 May 2025
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Adolescence examines, in almost excruciating detail, a parent’s worst nightmare.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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That evening, there was intense fighting between the Army and the R.S.F, but Wanis slipped outside anyway.—
Nicolas Niarchos,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
-
Losing someone the caliber of Soto’s track record stung the Yankees and certainly their fans based on the reaction of an intense Subway Series.—
Larry Fleisher,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harrowing. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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