harrowing 1 of 2

adjective

ˈher-ə-wiŋ How to pronounce harrowing (audio)
Definition of harrowingnext
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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of harrowing
Adjective
But one particularly harrowing drowning sticks in her memory. — Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026 Among the most harrowing was an overhead photograph of Rivas’ body pieced back together on a metal table, her face skeletonized. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2026 In the harrowing season finale, Alex (Aniston) finally gets her former cohost Bradley (Witherspoon) out of Belarusian custody. — Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 23 July 2026 Shot partially on location in southernmost Messinia, one of five administrative regions making up the Peloponnese, the film follows a harrowing journey of a man trying to return home against all odds. — Yulia Denisyuk, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harrowing
  1. painful
  2. wrenching
  3. plaguing
  4. harsh
  5. torturous
  6. afflicting
  7. cruel
  8. agonizing
Adjective
  • In a series of video interludes that break up the performance into acts, Grande plays Peaches, a woman who wants to undergo a procedure to erase her painful memories.
    — Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
  • But any movement that engages her core muscles — bending, turning, stretching — is painful and debilitating.
    — Daniela Suarez, NBC news, 31 July 2026
Definition of painful
Adjective
  • His most wrenching scene, when Stagg receives a devastating personal call but cannot react amid the intense geopolitical stakes, captured this tension.
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2026
  • Another wrenching question, of course, is whether at least the younger Perez siblings would want or need to go with Olga to Guatemala if she were deported.
    — Tim Padgett, Sun Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of wrenching
Verb
  • The change comes amid recent scorching temperatures plaguing Californians statewide — temperatures that can pose a threat to their health.
    — Paris Barraza, USA Today, 28 July 2026
  • This completely sidesteps current debates plaguing Medicare Part B — namely, rapidly mounting medication spending has driven higher premiums and out-of-pocket payments for beneficiaries.
    — Pooja Yerramilli, STAT, 24 July 2026
Definition of plaguing
Adjective
  • In both premise and execution, the show is hugely reminiscent of the Showtime series of the aughts and early 2010s that featured women in harsh circumstances going to extremes in order to get one over on a society that didn’t care about them.
    — Joe Reid, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Although he would not be drawn on future product pricing, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are set for release in September and will be affected by the harsh trading conditions.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • From 1873 to 1991, the island served as Costa Rica’s principal penitentiary, where some of the country’s worst criminals were sent to serve often short and torturous sentences.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 24 July 2026
  • Hellraiser introduced audiences to the mythology of the Lament Configuration puzzle box, the home to a dimensional portal inhabited by the ritualistically torturous beings, the Cenobites, and their leader, the iconic Pinhead.
    — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026
Definition of torturous
Verb
  • Other writers have successfully captured the malaise afflicting the under-45 crowd and offered nutrient-dense characters.
    — Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
  • One hour of media day player interviews, amid all the narratives afflicting the sport, felt like a long time to hold your breath.
    — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of afflicting
Adjective
  • Who could be so cruel as to cut off their family from the family plan?
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Influencer culture didn’t exist yet, but some designers were cruel and catty, even without the current omnipresent evil of social media.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 July 2026
Definition of cruel
Adjective
  • But Semeru provides a crucial intimacy for Etna, whose experience of the war has been one of agonizing isolation.
    — Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
  • Those looking to avoid an agonizing morning commute or a chaotic weekend trip to the city should steer clear of the following areas.
    — Hannah Hudnall, USA Today, 30 July 2026
Definition of agonizing

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Cite this Entry

“Harrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harrowing. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of harrowing for Spanish Speakers

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