grueling

adjective

gru·​el·​ing ˈgrü-ə-liŋ How to pronounce grueling (audio)
variants or gruelling
Synonyms of gruelingnext
: trying or taxing to the point of exhaustion : punishing
a grueling race
a grueling schedule
gruelingly adverb

Examples of grueling in a Sentence

running a marathon is grueling cutting diamonds can be grueling work
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
This level of cardio — paired with the fatigue of heavy minutes and grueling defensive assignments — affects a player’s in-season regimen for physical maintenance. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026 But as is the case with art, the beauty of the Huskies’ finish made everyone forget how grueling the creation actually was. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026 Women who have worked for years in grueling, low-paying jobs now have solid careers and a bright future. Mike Keogh, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026 The catcher played in the first two games of the series, and an off day on Sunday would have given him two straight days of rest early in a grueling season. Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grueling

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of obsolete gruel to exhaust, punish, from gruel, noun

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of grueling was in 1852

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grueling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grueling. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

grueling

adjective
gru·​el·​ing
variants or gruelling
: requiring extreme effort : exhausting

More from Merriam-Webster on grueling

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster