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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of grueling
That's a relatively common decision for figure skating gold medal winners, who face a rush of media and commercial opportunities after a grueling four-year Olympic buildup.
—
CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
That’s a heavy dose of sarcasm for those who overreacted to Judge’s first few at-bats of a long, grueling season.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
His approach comes at a time when landing a job has never felt more grueling.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
But there is an undeniable magic to the start of a grueling 162-game marathon.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grueling
CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
That’s a heavy dose of sarcasm for those who overreacted to Judge’s first few at-bats of a long, grueling season.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
His approach comes at a time when landing a job has never felt more grueling.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
But there is an undeniable magic to the start of a grueling 162-game marathon.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grueling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grueling
Adjective
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There were also high-arcing 3-pointers that touched nothing but the net, a difficult runner through contact that went in, and the kind of gravity that gave Kristaps Porzingis a layup just by cutting into space while the big man dove.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
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Some things in life are difficult.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Orkin bed bug control Bed bug treatment is challenging, but something that Orkin excels at.—
Alora Bopray,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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Turning your attention inward can feel challenging.—
J. David Creswell,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The judge assigned to Amin’s case was Iman Afshari, known in Tehran for his tough sentences—a reputation that led the European Union to place him on a blacklist, in January, for human-rights abuses.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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Two sisters in Big Bear are facing one of the toughest moments in their lives.—
Zach Boetto,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The right answer, if there is one, has to be more demanding.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
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This high-capacity version ensures your most demanding creative assets are always instantly accessible, cementing its status as a premier, long-term investment for any mobile professional.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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No pharmaceutical company, no academic medical center, and no government agency has found the existing preclinical data compelling enough to fund a rigorous human trial in over 30 years.—
Vikas Patel,
STAT,
3 Apr. 2026
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Every personal finance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal finance products.—
Layla Melendez,
CNBC,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Since his initial metastatic pheochromocytoma of the liver diagnosis in 2021, which has changed to adrenocortical carcinoma and moved to different parts of Gilbert’s body, the musician has shared every step of his arduous journey.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
4 Apr. 2026
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The quest to find out why some Braves were celebrating hits by scratching their heads proved more arduous than expected.—
Tyler Estep,
AJC.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Sleeping positions and firmness Beyond mattress type, your preferred sleep position and mattress firmness (how hard or soft a bed feels) are other important factors to consider when buying a mattress.—
Sharon Brandwein,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
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But these funding mechanisms can be hard to understand, from school bonds and GO bonds to tax levies and earnings taxes.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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This double-digit growth positions the $98-per-year service as a formidable challenger to Amazon Prime, leaning heavily on delivery speed and new streaming partnerships.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Its missile force is formidable.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grueling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grueling. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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