variants
or gruelling
1
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
running a marathon is grueling
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in challenging
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention
cutting diamonds can be grueling work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grueling
For summer cookouts, don’t miss this Coleman hard cooler that truly punched above its price point in the grueling Alabama heat.
—
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
25 June 2026
And the reconciliation process can be long and grueling.
—
Justin Papp,
CNBC,
24 June 2026
Part of the reason the shoot felt so grueling was because Ford and director Ridley Scott clashed over script decisions.
—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 June 2026
Players might also take scissors to their socks as a solution to ward off cramping or reduce muscle strains and fatigue during a grueling 90-minute game.
—
Alex Connor,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for grueling
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
25 June 2026
And the reconciliation process can be long and grueling.
—
Justin Papp,
CNBC,
24 June 2026
Part of the reason the shoot felt so grueling was because Ford and director Ridley Scott clashed over script decisions.
—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 June 2026
Players might also take scissors to their socks as a solution to ward off cramping or reduce muscle strains and fatigue during a grueling 90-minute game.
—
Alex Connor,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for grueling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grueling
Adjective
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Sarah Buck, Chicago Driving has become harder The rapid increase in bike lanes has made driving much more difficult and tedious, with numerous delays due to many streets being reduced to one lane in busy areas.
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Republican strategists have welcomed those nominations as an opening for attack in a difficult election year.
Adjective
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This enduring legacy, underscores the lawyer's role as an officer of the court, preserving the rule of law even when challenging authority.
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Educate your family on our country’s history, both good and challenging.
Adjective
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MacDonald agrees that some of Kiros' positions could put Democratic candidates in a tough spot.
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The 34 measures include cuts to income tax for low- and middle income families, an overhaul of the creaking pension system, tougher rules for employees' sick leave and a reduction of the country's stifling bureaucracy.
Adjective
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Building a paper airplane can be as demanding as building the airframe of a real aircraft.
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Once the evaluation process is complete, the company plans to scale production to thousands of units over the next three years, targeting manufacturers seeking to automate physically demanding and hazardous work.
Adjective
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Every cybersecurity article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors.
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This improves both customer and agent experience, while still meeting rigorous business standards around accuracy, reliability, and risk management.
Adjective
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Yet making content often requires an arduous production process on the island.
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Ecuador’s journey to this point has been much more arduous, advancing to the knockout round as one of the eight best third-place finishers after a crucial 2-1 comeback win over Germany in its final group game.
Adjective
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Not long afterward, he was elected president on a platform deeply hostile to the West and its liberal ideology, and especially to the United States — threatening a hard fight in the event of war.
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That’s hard to imagine of a president who uses the office to promote and prosper from his own brand name.
Adjective
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England faces a formidable challenge against Mexico in the FIFA World Cup knockout round, playing at Estadio Azteca, 7,220 feet above sea level.
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However, there is arguably no matchup currently more daunting than a game against this formidable France side.
Cite this Entry
“Grueling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grueling. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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