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
Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
As with the epidemic of gun violence, the self-perpetuating cycle of online radicalization continues unbroken, with harrowing consequences for all sides of the political spectrum.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2025
While airplane evacuations are extremely rare, emergencies can be especially harrowing for people with reduced mobility or other disabilities.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
That would be 2019 and 2020 in which the then-Texas Longhorns men’s tennis coach was arrested by FBI agents, pleaded guilty to a federal crime and served a harrowing 6-month prison sentence as a result of his involvement in the Operation Varsity Blues college admissions scandal.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Adjective
Matisse’s daughter Marguerite was arrested by the Gestapo, a harrowing tale retold by Gorham in his book.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
As with the epidemic of gun violence, the self-perpetuating cycle of online radicalization continues unbroken, with harrowing consequences for all sides of the political spectrum.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2025
While airplane evacuations are extremely rare, emergencies can be especially harrowing for people with reduced mobility or other disabilities.
—Zach Wichter, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
That would be 2019 and 2020 in which the then-Texas Longhorns men’s tennis coach was arrested by FBI agents, pleaded guilty to a federal crime and served a harrowing 6-month prison sentence as a result of his involvement in the Operation Varsity Blues college admissions scandal.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harrowing
Adjective
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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
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The outage adds to a series of high-profile technical and staffing issues plaguing the FAA this year.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
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There's another mystery plaguing Morgan and her family in the Season 2 premiere.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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These findings highlight an urgent need to shield stem cells from the harsh realities of space.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
20 Sep. 2025
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Rain is coming, penciled in for an hour or two from now, and a harsh British wind is flinging leaves off branches and cloaking the countryside with something that smells dungy and damp.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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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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Sena was crying in pain, and so were her new owners, who even questioned whether keeping her alive was cruel.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
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Directed by Oliver Laxe, who’s been making waves at Cannes for years, the movie is funny and warm in parts, cruel and cold in others.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The pair endured an agonizing drive to the hospital, unsure of Lulu's status — praying the entire way.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
18 Sep. 2025
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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 27 Sep. 2025.
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