variants
or gruelling
1
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
running a marathon is grueling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Examples Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of grueling
Visitors who complete the grueling, mile-long climb today can instead expect to find a laminated message from Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services citing city ordinances that prohibit littering or causing damage to trees and grass.
—
Max Levy, The Denver Post, 13 Dec. 2024
Olsen updated the company’s approach to ad metrics and explored new methods of audience measurement at a time of grueling transition for an industry contending with the rise of streaming and digital competition.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 9 Dec. 2024
Vehicles come equipped with unique shock absorbers to cushion the impact from a grueling rock climb.
—Morgan Korn, ABC News, 8 Dec. 2024
Somehow, Ordaz and a small band of compatriots endured the long, grueling ascent — their lungs slowly crushed by the altitude’s pressure, their backs weighed down by their steel helmets and breastplates — and lived to tell the tale.
—Charles Curkin, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for grueling 
Max Levy, The Denver Post, 13 Dec. 2024
Olsen updated the company’s approach to ad metrics and explored new methods of audience measurement at a time of grueling transition for an industry contending with the rise of streaming and digital competition.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 9 Dec. 2024
Vehicles come equipped with unique shock absorbers to cushion the impact from a grueling rock climb.
—Morgan Korn, ABC News, 8 Dec. 2024
Somehow, Ordaz and a small band of compatriots endured the long, grueling ascent — their lungs slowly crushed by the altitude’s pressure, their backs weighed down by their steel helmets and breastplates — and lived to tell the tale.
—Charles Curkin, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for grueling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grueling
Adjective
-
But extracting data from a phone can be extremely difficult, depending on the model of the phone and the operating system.Holly Yan, CNN, 7 Dec. 2024
-
Add Fragrance That earthy pine scent is one aspect of a real tree that is difficult to part with when making the switch to faux.Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Choosing the best baked ham online can be challenging—there are glazed and non-glazed options, spiral-cut and whole, boneless and bone-in, and large or small hams.Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2024
-
Gracefully opting out Navigating the discomfort of setting boundaries around gift-giving traditions can be challenging.Julianna Bragg, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Furthermore, selling a business is extremely demanding work, so having appropriate incentives in place for the key executives of the business to be divested is imperative.Raj Sharma, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
-
For the first time in our nearly 50-year history, a Black actress won our lead performance category — for an exceptionally demanding turn that only someone of Jean-Baptiste’s caliber could pull off.Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Under Argentina's strict capital controls, this arduous monthly pilgrimage was her lifeline to the global digital economy.Boaz Sobrado, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
-
That was a very arduous, ugly tax code with much higher rates, with a lot more loopholes, a lot more deductions.CBS News, CBS News, 15 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
In a time when people approach political, social and economic issues with a different set of information and fake news is rampant, the best way to do that is to approach tough conversations with stories rather than facts.Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
-
The clients’ storefronts are positioned to succeed in a sometimes tough marketplace by focusing on exclusivity and quality.Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The legal profession has long been recognized for its rigorous standards and competitive environment.Jennifer Jay Palumbo, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
-
The finding that Israel has perpetrated genocide is a conclusion based on painstaking research and rigorous legal analysis.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
While Cronin has stuck with the 6-foot-9 Bilodeau as his starting big man, the coach might need to pivot to more minutes for either Aday Mara or William Kyle III once the Bruins face taller Big Ten lineups.Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024
-
My neighbor just won the tallest Christmas tree competition.Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
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
-
Whether those numbers are an overstatement, or possibly an understatement, is hard to say.Lance Eliot, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
Thesaurus Entries Near grueling
Cite this Entry
“Grueling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grueling. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share