backbreaking

adjective

back·​break·​ing ˈbak-ˌbrā-kiŋ 

: extremely arduous, exhausting, or demoralizing

backbreaking labor

backbreaking rents

backbreaker

ˈbak-ˌbrā-kər 

noun

Synonyms

• arduous
• Augean
• challenging
• demanding
• difficult
• effortful
• exacting
• formidable
• grueling
• gruelling
• hard
• heavy
• hellacious
• herculean
• killer
• laborious
• moiling
• murderous
• pick-and-shovel
• rigorous
• rough
• rugged
• severe
• stiff
• strenuous
• sweaty
• tall
• testing
• toilsome
• tough
• uphill

Examples of backbreaking in a Sentence

modern machinery has significantly eased the backbreaking work of farming

Recent Examples on the Web

Still, there are many women who are interested in staying porters, a job that would benefit significantly from adequate health care, improved living conditions, and additional tools for easier transport so that the work isn’t so backbreaking. —Laura Kiniry, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Feb. 2022

Its constant work building a personal brand and then effectively monetizing that brand to enable the work to be a full-time job is even more backbreaking. —Keith Bendes, Forbes, 6 May 2022

The trials pay better than dishwashing, require no skills and are far less backbreaking than loading and unloading boxes. —Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2021

The Kings were leading 80-60 at the time and led by as many as 26 in the game, dealing the Blazers’ playoff chase a backbreaking blow. —oregonlive, 8 Mar. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1766, in the meaning defined above