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
What is my duty, then, in far more ordinary and less harrowing circumstances?
—Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 26 May 2026
Inspired by Gisèle Pelicot ’s decision to make her harrowing drug and rape trial public, the parents of the children agreed to open the proceedings.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
The blow up also wasted a strong performance by rookie left-hander Payton Tolle, who survived a harrowing second inning to post his third quality start in four outings.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 23 May 2026
What starts as a mystery becomes an existential horror film, a harrowing journey into a landscape in which death lurks around every corner.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 23 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
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Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 26 May 2026
Inspired by Gisèle Pelicot ’s decision to make her harrowing drug and rape trial public, the parents of the children agreed to open the proceedings.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
The blow up also wasted a strong performance by rookie left-hander Payton Tolle, who survived a harrowing second inning to post his third quality start in four outings.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 23 May 2026
What starts as a mystery becomes an existential horror film, a harrowing journey into a landscape in which death lurks around every corner.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 23 May 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 31 May. 2026.
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