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
Based on exhaustive research, the ambitious series revisits that harrowing moment through the eyes of those who endured it, capturing the deep and lasting scars borne by survivors and the families who, even today, continue their pursuit of justice.
—Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 31 July 2025
One day, after hiking a local trail, Millie and Tim drink from a magical water source that triggers some harrowing side effects.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 31 July 2025
It’s had a number of harrowing trailers and is now releasing full clips that the internet is finding deeply unsettling.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
The harrowing incident marked the fifth malfunction since the ride opened to the public on June 28.
—Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
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Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 31 July 2025
One day, after hiking a local trail, Millie and Tim drink from a magical water source that triggers some harrowing side effects.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 31 July 2025
It’s had a number of harrowing trailers and is now releasing full clips that the internet is finding deeply unsettling.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 29 July 2025
The harrowing incident marked the fifth malfunction since the ride opened to the public on June 28.
—Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Cite this Entry
“Harrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harrowing. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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