1
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
a harrowing portrayal of the ravages of war
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful
the harrowing amputations without any anesthetic that soldiers and sailors once were forced to endure
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in plaguing
to cause persistent suffering to
the villagers were gaunt and sickly, harrowed by years of disease and starvation
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harrowing
Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2025
Hamas releasing this harrowing video of hostage Evyatar David, looking painfully emaciated.
—ABC News, 3 Aug. 2025
Based on exhaustive research, the ambitious series revisits that harrowing moment through the eyes of those who endured it, capturing the deep and lasting scars borne by survivors and the families who, even today, continue their pursuit of justice.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 31 July 2025
One day, after hiking a local trail, Millie and Tim drink from a magical water source that triggers some harrowing side effects.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Adjective
The collection of solo and small-group performances in the Fringe Festival range from the hilarious to the harrowing.
—Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2025
Hamas releasing this harrowing video of hostage Evyatar David, looking painfully emaciated.
—ABC News, 3 Aug. 2025
Based on exhaustive research, the ambitious series revisits that harrowing moment through the eyes of those who endured it, capturing the deep and lasting scars borne by survivors and the families who, even today, continue their pursuit of justice.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 31 July 2025
One day, after hiking a local trail, Millie and Tim drink from a magical water source that triggers some harrowing side effects.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harrowing
Adjective
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Although the condition itself isn’t typically painful, raw or blistered skin can lead to pain and swelling.7 Secondary skin infections—like if a blister is exposed to bacteria and gets infected—can also cause painful symptoms.—
Sarah Bradley,
Health,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Once tooth enamel is lost, the tooth nerves are exposed, which is painful and makes the teeth sensitive.—
Thomas Westerholm,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The former Calle 13 member impresses her sensitivity to this piece, originally written by Orlando Brito and popularized in 1975 by the great Héctor Lavoe, giving it new life with her powerful, dramatic voice, accompanied by street guitars and harsh, aggressive chords that captivate the listener.—
Jessica Roiz,
Billboard,
15 Aug. 2025
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While the comparison of slave babies being taken from their mommas, and immigrant children being separated from their parents might seem a bit harsh to some, the pain is the same.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Season 2 reveals the main characters were locked up in a torturous adult rehabilitation center, but have now been allowed to re-enroll at Godolkin University.—
Zoe Kaplan,
People.com,
9 Aug. 2025
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Other detainees have also called the conditions torturous, saying the facility is full of mosquitoes and where fluorescent lights shine bright on them at all times.—
Josh Feldman,
NBC news,
23 July 2025
Verb
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That’s changing this year, as three Democratic governors announced new initiatives aimed at addressing disparities afflicting boys and men.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
25 Mar. 2025
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One key focus of these efforts should address the deficiencies afflicting the market for biologics, which are medicines made or derived from biological processes.—
Wayne Winegarden,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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That is a particularly egregious example of how the Trump Administration has been gratuitously cruel to the Sudanese.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
5 Aug. 2025
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Stacy, Tim’s wife, also died of pancreatic cancer five months later in February of 2024, a cruel hand for a family that for years had gone above and beyond in their efforts to raise money and awareness for cancer research.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
3 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The 15-centimeter-long fish died an agonizing death, impaled on a 10-centimeter-long belemnite.—
David Bressan,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
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Laura and Geoff tried to summarize the heights of Greg’s life — most tied to football — as well as his agonizing final 15 years.—
Christopher Kamrani,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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But a moment later, despite the excruciating pain and the loss of blood, her eyes brightened.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Aug. 2025
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Disputes often take an excruciating 45 to 90 days to resolve and can cause consumers to hate their credit card or debit card bank, at least temporarily.—
Jeff Kauflin,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The community’s response is intense: panicked and bereaved mothers and fathers turn on Justine, indirectly a victim herself; misguided outrage blinds them to the real menace operating unimpeded in their midst.—
Andy Crump,
Time,
9 Aug. 2025
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For Democrats, the internal pressure is even more intense.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harrowing. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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