as in gruesome
informal
causing great mental or emotional pain
gut-wrenching decisions the novel's gut-wrenching opening scene
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Recent Examples of gut-wrenching
Now came the gut-wrenching duty to notify Aileen's sister, Franceasca Seiden.
—
Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 19 Oct. 2024
The brothers also gave gut-wrenching testimony about being raped and molested by their father—Lyle between the ages of 6 and 8, and Erik from 6 to 18.
—Emily Palmer, People.com, 8 Oct. 2024
In a gut-wrenching scene that drew criticism after the film's premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, The Apprentice depicts the future president raping his wife.
—EW.com, 3 Oct. 2024
After a gut-wrenching breakup, one of the biggest questions you might be left with is, Why?
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gut-wrenching 
Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 19 Oct. 2024
The brothers also gave gut-wrenching testimony about being raped and molested by their father—Lyle between the ages of 6 and 8, and Erik from 6 to 18.
—Emily Palmer, People.com, 8 Oct. 2024
In a gut-wrenching scene that drew criticism after the film's premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, The Apprentice depicts the future president raping his wife.
—EW.com, 3 Oct. 2024
After a gut-wrenching breakup, one of the biggest questions you might be left with is, Why?
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gut-wrenching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gut-wrenching
Adjective
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One popular, gruesome theory has it that a truck ran her over and then sped away, but what happened for sure, no one can tell.Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
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Before his gruesome leg injury, the 24-year-old pass-rusher was on pace to secure an NFL Defensive Player of the Year trophy.Jesse Reed, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Goldberg's words come over a year after The View began an unrelenting battle with gaseous entities, following a horrific water spillage (and mysterious fart noise of unknown origin) that plagued the Hot Topics table in January 2023.EW.com, EW.com, 5 Nov. 2024
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Travis and Jason are clearly very close with one another, and the fan that hurled such a horrific thing led to Jason reacting in a very angry manner.James Brizuela, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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One evening when the boat is moored in Viviers, we are served a terrific barbecue dinner on the Upper Vista Deck.James Rampton, theweek, 6 Nov. 2024
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Note, too, that the last two presidential campaigns included the two combatants in this year’s race for the White House, yet stocks enjoyed terrific returns during both administrations.John Buckingham, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The couple’s happy news comes months after more shocking relationship reports.Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
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During the Halloween Nightmares episode last week, there was a shocking elimination after a fan-favorite couple went home despite winning their dance-off and receiving a high score.Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Winters — who was so terrifying in Heroes of the Fourth Turning and who revealed a messy vulnerability behind Kerry Castellabate’s hard bangs and structured suits on Succession — is a pro at tough, slick surfaces with tangles of insecurity underneath.Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
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Perusing the store’s shelves, there’s the usual lineup of Route 66 merch alongside a host of shirts bearing new and terrifying puns.Dan Sheehan, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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While Malloy's candidacy represents a clear challenge to Sanders' decades-long dominance in Vermont politics, the senator's enduring popularity and political influence remain formidable.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
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Jones, who died on Sunday night at 91 in Los Angeles, had already been a formidable impresario in music and TV for decades before pairing up with Jackson, a former child prodigy struggling with his pivot into adulthood.Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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For example, people often dodge screenings and diagnostic tests to avoid the frightening possibility of discovering cancer.Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
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Demi Moore is sharing scary photos of a frightening side of her character in the body horror movie The Substance.Tim Lammers, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Meanwhile Kelly Oubre, who was terrible with the Warriors, has found success with Philadelphia.Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
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Elsbeth and Kaya are suspicious of Roselyn, even after Valentina’s quick assessment — supported by the medical examiner — that Claude’s death was a terrible accident.Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near gut-wrenching
Cite this Entry
“Gut-wrenching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gut-wrenching. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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