variants
or gruelling
1
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
running a marathon is grueling
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in challenging
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention
cutting diamonds can be grueling work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grueling
New York, Cincinnati, Toronto, DC, Miami, London—the geotags on power couple Frances Tiafoe and Ayan Broomfield's Instagram posts from the last two months chart a grueling tour schedule.
—
Abbey Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Aug. 2025
The journey was grueling, both physically and emotionally, as his symptoms gradually worsened: stiffness crept up his left arm, followed by increasing weakness throughout his body.
—Jordan Greene, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
After navigating stalkers, kidnapping plots, grueling schedules and excess demands, all the pressure eventually led to an eating disorder.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Residencies range from three years for some specialties to five years for others, with neurosurgery requiring the longest commitment—a grueling seven-year program known for its intensity.
—Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grueling
Abbey Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Aug. 2025
The journey was grueling, both physically and emotionally, as his symptoms gradually worsened: stiffness crept up his left arm, followed by increasing weakness throughout his body.
—Jordan Greene, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
After navigating stalkers, kidnapping plots, grueling schedules and excess demands, all the pressure eventually led to an eating disorder.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Residencies range from three years for some specialties to five years for others, with neurosurgery requiring the longest commitment—a grueling seven-year program known for its intensity.
—Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grueling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grueling
Adjective
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And as more time passed, reaching out felt more and more difficult.—
Kevin Kruse,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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The Chamber said the cancellation was a difficult decision but ultimately the best course of action.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Taking the most challenging courses available — like AP, IB, honors, or dual enrollment classes — signals preparedness for college-level work.—
Liz Doe Stone,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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Getting the Supreme Court to take this case at all is going to be extremely challenging.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Baldwin has done it while playing the most difficult and demanding position on the diamond, mentally in terms of daily meetings and film study, and physically from the toll of working beneath pads in the summer heat and getting nicked up from foul tips, collisions and occasional wayward swings.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
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This has come as a result of America being too demanding and being very political.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The road through the Western Conference is arduous to say the least.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Aug. 2025
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Darnell’s arduous journey from part-time Division III college pitcher to independent leaguer with the Gary SouthShore RailCats, to winter ball in Australia, to a desk job in finance had finally paid off.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
10 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Sanctions have roiled Russia's economy and Trump could use tougher measures as leverage over Putin, said Richard Portes, professor of economics at London Business School.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
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Even if increasing competition and financial obstruction have influenced summer recruitment, making this season’s challenges tougher, the confidence in Unai Emery and Villa’s football department remains unerring.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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There are any number of predictable ways this scenario might have developed but the film is rigorous in its rejection of clichés or simple fixes.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Aug. 2025
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Students must fall below an income cap and meet Vanderbilt's rigorous admissions standards to get in.—
The Tennessean,
The Tennessean,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Police described Decker as a white man with black hair and brown eyes, standing 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 190 pounds.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
31 Aug. 2025
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That diligence earned the tallest residential tower south of Manhattan eight International Property Awards from International Property Media, the global authority on real estate excellence since 1993.—
Lilian Raji,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.—
Alia Wong,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2023
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Whether those numbers are an overstatement, or possibly an understatement, is hard to say.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
13 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Grueling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grueling. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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