harrowing

adjective

har·​row·​ing ˈher-ə-wiŋ How to pronounce harrowing (audio)
ˈha-rə-
: acutely distressing or painful
a harrowing experience
Mr. Wu's work in a coal mine was particularly harrowing.Charles Horner
harrowingly adverb

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
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Heading into his late 30s, Lil Joe has been a road warrior in an astonishing and sometimes harrowing life’s journey, gaining considerable recognition among his kind, which in the wild is having a tough time these days with Florida’s deadly waters. Kevin Spear, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2025 Not far from the Jewish center, some of the earliest footage from the fire depicted residents of a senior home who made a harrowing escape and a McDonalds that had been consumed and damaged by flames. Colleen Shalby, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025 The exhibition highlights her harrowing journey through captivity and her inspiring story of resilience and hope, with Sara Netanyahu also in attendance. Sean Pitts, Sun Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2025 Beyond the economic pain is the trauma of crackling flames, harrowing escapes and, for workers who had formed yearslong relationships with their employers, genuine loss. Orlando Mayorquín, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for harrowing 

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of harrow entry 3

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of harrowing was in 1799

Dictionary Entries Near harrowing

Cite this Entry

“Harrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harrowing. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

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