harrowing
adjective
har·row·ing
ˈher-ə-wiŋ 
ˈha-rə-
: acutely distressing or painful
a harrowing experience
Mr. Wu's work in a coal mine was particularly harrowing.—
Charles Horner
Charles Horner
harrowingly
adverb
Examples of harrowing in a Sentence
a harrowing portrayal of the ravages of war
the harrowing amputations without any anesthetic that soldiers and sailors once were forced to endure
Recent Examples on the Web
These two Gulf coast sister islands have weathered a harrowing few hurricane seasons, with Hurricane Ian in 2022, and Helene and Milton in 2024 close behind.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
These inflection points prompted community action as an instinct, laying the groundwork for this harrowing moment.
—Evan Minsker, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2026
In a video posted to X on Thursday night, state police shared a harrowing video of the driver nearly colliding with the wrong-way driver.
—Chilekasi Adele, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Vying for a parking spot on a crowded city street after a snowstorm has long felt like going to battle, and now there's a harrowing twist.
—Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
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Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
These inflection points prompted community action as an instinct, laying the groundwork for this harrowing moment.
—Evan Minsker, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2026
In a video posted to X on Thursday night, state police shared a harrowing video of the driver nearly colliding with the wrong-way driver.
—Chilekasi Adele, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
Vying for a parking spot on a crowded city street after a snowstorm has long felt like going to battle, and now there's a harrowing twist.
—Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Cite this Entry
“Harrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harrowing. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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