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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harrowing
James Factora, Them, 5 Mar. 2025
The underwater sequences are harrowing, and director of photography Nick Remy Matthews and underwater director of photography Ian Seabrook are the reason why.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2025
But that could be because of the blaster stun from his Star Wars experience, which proved harrowing.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Feb. 2025
Now, a harrowing new three-part Hulu docuseries called Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, premiering Feb. 27, unpacks the events leading up to both women’s arrests.
—Rachel Brodsky, TIME, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Adjective
In light of harrowing new details about the torture and death of Black transgender man Sam Nordquist, 24, a grand jury has upgraded the charges against the seven suspects in his death to first-degree murder, a charge which carries a life sentence.
—James Factora, Them, 5 Mar. 2025
The underwater sequences are harrowing, and director of photography Nick Remy Matthews and underwater director of photography Ian Seabrook are the reason why.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2025
But that could be because of the blaster stun from his Star Wars experience, which proved harrowing.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Feb. 2025
Now, a harrowing new three-part Hulu docuseries called Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, premiering Feb. 27, unpacks the events leading up to both women’s arrests.
—Rachel Brodsky, TIME, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harrowing
Adjective
-
Like witnessing a bad car crash, Ye’s (formerly known as Kanye West) latest episodes of hate speech and misogyny have been painful to watch and continue to elicit shock and dismay from every corner of the entertainment world.—
David Renzer,
Rolling Stone,
12 Mar. 2025
-
While that decline was painful for COST holders, the stock bottomed in mid-May, five months before the S & P 500 ultimately found its own low in October 2022.—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Nestled within denser parts of the clouds, the water would have been protected from being destroyed by harsh radiation from nearby stars, Latif said.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
12 Mar. 2025
-
Smith isn’t alone in that sentiment, as other analysts and critics have shared his harsh review of Bronny’s performance in the NBA.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The crane-hunt proposal reminds some observers of Wisconsin’s torturous experience with approving a mourning dove hunt a generation ago.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
17 Jan. 2025
-
The Lombardi is more Holy Grail than trophy, the end of what can only be described as a torturous emotional pilgrimage.—
Ali Watkins,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
An audacious plan In the mid-1980s, global health agencies were otherwise occupied and heads of state largely overlooked the illness afflicting millions of their citizens.—
Sam Mednick,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Dec. 2024
-
The United States now suffers from twin pathologies—one afflicting the health of its citizens and the other the health of its political system.—
Thomas J. Bollyky,
Foreign Affairs,
30 Jan. 2020
Adjective
-
In Season 2, a cruel winter brings new challenges and unfinished business to Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara (Helen Mirren) back at Dutton ranch.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Michael, in a filmed conversation with Grace, claimed that his ex-wife had manipulated him and was cruel to Natalia.—
Fortesa Latifi,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Otherwise, we’ll still be mired in this same agonizing debate.—
Sammy Roth,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Perhaps no vote was as agonizing for Senator Bill Cassidy, the Louisiana Republican and medical doctor, than his vote to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as President Trump’s health secretary.—
Sheryl Gay Stolberg,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
In late 2019, sudden, excruciating pain in my pelvis sent me to the emergency room.—
Katrina Martin,
Health,
4 Mar. 2025
-
The finish is long on the palate with an excruciating persistence of coal and extinguished forest fire.—
Emily Price,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
This is due to the bodywork, interior work, and intense customization required to retrofit a new drivetrain under an old body.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
8 Mar. 2025
-
The intense gravitational pull from the black hole rips the two stars apart, capturing one star into a close orbit around it, notes the center.—
Bruce Dorminey,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harrowing. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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