harrowing

adjective

har·​row·​ing ˈher-ə-wiŋ 

ˈha-rə-

: acutely distressing or painful

a harrowing experience

Mr. Wu's work in a coal mine was particularly harrowing.

—Charles Horner

harrowingly adverb

Synonyms

• afflicting
• agonizing
• bitter
• cruel
• excruciating
• galling
• grievous
• harsh
• heartrending
• hurtful
• painful
• tormenting
• torturous

Examples of harrowing in a Sentence

a harrowing portrayal of the ravages of war

the harrowing amputations without any anesthetic that soldiers and sailors once were forced to endure

Recent Examples on the Web

In a subsequent season 9 episode, Sandra Oh’s Cristina Yang struggles with the harrowing memory of hearing wolves fighting over Lexie’s body in the night while she and the other doctors were stranded. —John Russell, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024

The Seed of the Sacred Fig transforms from a quiet drama into a harrowing thriller. —Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2024

Earthquake leaves Northern California with ‘emergency whiplash’ Tens of thousands of Northern Californians had a harrowing morning on Thursday, which may be putting it mildly. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024

The music icon, now 77, recalled the harrowing mishap in his new memoir, Farewell Yellow Brick Road: Memories of My Life on Tour. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of harrow entry 3

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above