grueling

adjective

gru·​el·​ing ˈgrü-ə-liŋ How to pronounce grueling (audio)
variants or gruelling
: trying or taxing to the point of exhaustion : punishing
a grueling race
gruelingly adverb

Examples of grueling in a Sentence

running a marathon is grueling cutting diamonds can be grueling work
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Despite losing a renowned senior class that keyed those four straight titles — including record-setting hitters Jayda Coleman and Tiare Jennings and top pitcher Kelly Maxwell — OU finished first in a grueling conference that produced seven of the top eight seeds in this year’s tourney. Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 15 May 2025 The complaint itself alleges that children as young as 13 years old worked grueling 15-hour training schedules at least six days a week, in exchange for little pay and inadequate education. Juliana Kim, NPR, 13 May 2025 Filmed in the final weeks of a grueling season, the film captures the last races at Millbridge Speedway, where 9-year-old drivers chase a championship—and parents double as coaches, mechanics, and mentors. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 13 May 2025 Donaldson, known for videos featuring grueling challenges and extravagant giveaways, and his team did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for grueling

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of obsolete gruel to exhaust, punish, from gruel, noun

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of grueling was in 1852

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grueling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grueling. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

grueling

adjective
gru·​el·​ing
variants or gruelling
: requiring extreme effort : exhausting

More from Merriam-Webster on grueling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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