1
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
a harrowing portrayal of the ravages of war
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2
as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful
the harrowing amputations without any anesthetic that soldiers and sailors once were forced to endure
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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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Examples of harrowing in a Sentence
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Recent Examples on the Web
Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Oct. 2024
Consider the life of Mary Prince, a remarkable Black Bermudian woman who endured the harrowing experience of enslavement and became the first to publish an autobiography detailing her journey as a slave.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 24 Oct. 2024
After Being Shot in the Chest, Police Sergeant Recalls
After the game, Pearsall made his first public comments about his harrowing experience from the Aug. 31 shooting, but also managed to smile and joke at times about how well he’s managed to recover since then.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 21 Oct. 2024
As Huston recovers from the harrowing incident, her family members — including her 22-year-old great-grandson Rylee — are marveling at the matriarch’s resilient nature.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for harrowing 
Adjective
But for even those who decide to leave northern Gaza, the journey is just as harrowing, Palestinians say.
—Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Oct. 2024
Consider the life of Mary Prince, a remarkable Black Bermudian woman who endured the harrowing experience of enslavement and became the first to publish an autobiography detailing her journey as a slave.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 24 Oct. 2024
After Being Shot in the Chest, Police Sergeant Recalls
After the game, Pearsall made his first public comments about his harrowing experience from the Aug. 31 shooting, but also managed to smile and joke at times about how well he’s managed to recover since then.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 21 Oct. 2024
As Huston recovers from the harrowing incident, her family members — including her 22-year-old great-grandson Rylee — are marveling at the matriarch’s resilient nature.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for harrowing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harrowing
Adjective
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This bloating is often painful and is usually accompanied by chronic constipation and/or diarrhea, gas, belching, and sometimes weight changes, nausea and reflux.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
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Ryan McLean, a New York City fireman who donated bone marrow to a three-year-old child in 2022, says the process was quick and easy, not painful and with a long recovery period as donors are often led to believe.Pia Velasco, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2024
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There are also more-than-adequate storage spaces in the large center console annd all four doors. CHANGE: The ride quality The ride quality is a little harsher in the Sorento than in some of its competitors, especially with the 20-inch wheels and lower profile tires the tester came equipped with.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
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Trump’s comments on Taiwan have been unusually harsh for China policy in Washington, where there is a general bipartisan consensus to be tough on Beijing and Xi, who has pledged to reunify with Taipei, by force if necessary.Brad Dress, The Hill, 2 Nov. 2024
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According to the political scientist Pierre Englebert, the Congolese government and people lose as much as $4 billion in revenue every year due to state agents’ manipulation of mining contracts and payments, torturous budget practices, and outright theft.Stephen R. Weissman, Foreign Affairs, 8 June 2015
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The right boots, however, can make previously torturous bell-to-bell days no big deal.Drew Zieff, Outside Online, 9 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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This soaring exploration of generational trauma starts with Star, a survivor of the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre, who’s forced to speak English and practice Christianity by the man who goes on to found the notoriously cruel Carlisle Indian Industrial School.Lizz Schumer, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
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But at times, there’s a defensive, slightly cruel streak to his patter that can eclipse his better angels (of which there are many) and test the goodwill of those around him.Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024
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Their son’s admission would send the McDonalds on a journey that forced them to make agonizing choices about their faith and family.John Blake, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024
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Watching Stephen practice asking to see Nicholas is agonizing.Ben Travers, IndieWire, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Marking its 70th anniversary in 2023, Buchinger Wilhelmi in Überlingen, Germany, was the brainchild of a clean-living German naval doctor, Otto Buchinger (1878-1966), whose career was cut short by excruciating rheumatism.Bill Prince, theweek, 7 Nov. 2024
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Helene's toll: Hurricane among the deadliest since 1950 The cost in dollars: Hurricane season will cost over $100B Women online are warning each other about painful procedures Kerry Schwartz suffered excruciating pain during a gynecological biopsy to have a fibroid removed.John Riley, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024
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The vote came amid a moment of intense political debate about inflation.Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
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The stakes have never been higher — and the pressure has never been more intense.The Arizona Republic, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near harrowing
Cite this Entry
“Harrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harrowing. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
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