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
The third season of Fox's Special Forces: World's Toughest Test is here and it's already proven to be grueling for its recognizable cast.
—
Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 9 Jan. 2025
That gives a sense of the long, lonely and often stressful stretches of the Vendée Globe, considered the most grueling, nonstop, single-handed race in sailing history.
—George Allen, Robb Report, 15 Jan. 2025
Forbidden from participating in Taoist rituals because of her gender, Yuet works as a paramedic, but her grueling schedule only further distances her from her family, and has led her into a number of deeply unsatisfying romantic entanglements.
—James Marsh, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2025
The music has yet to stop, but most of the chairs are filled at Nebraska with a week to go before returning and new football players convene ahead of the start of a grueling winter workout schedule.
—Mitch Sherman, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for grueling 
Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 9 Jan. 2025
That gives a sense of the long, lonely and often stressful stretches of the Vendée Globe, considered the most grueling, nonstop, single-handed race in sailing history.
—George Allen, Robb Report, 15 Jan. 2025
Forbidden from participating in Taoist rituals because of her gender, Yuet works as a paramedic, but her grueling schedule only further distances her from her family, and has led her into a number of deeply unsatisfying romantic entanglements.
—James Marsh, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2025
The music has yet to stop, but most of the chairs are filled at Nebraska with a week to go before returning and new football players convene ahead of the start of a grueling winter workout schedule.
—Mitch Sherman, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for grueling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grueling
Adjective
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An aviation expert, along with the Army pilot, tells PEOPLE that Reagan National Airport can be especially difficult to fly into.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
People.com,
30 Jan. 2025
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Challenges of an Airline Pilot's Lifestyle Beyond the technical demands of the job, Wallach said the most difficult part of being a pilot was the lifestyle—particularly as a single parent.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Shakira has had a challenging time since splitting from her ex Gerard Piqué.—
Ilana Kaplan,
People.com,
3 Feb. 2025
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But the alternative—growing real red blood cells outside the body—has proved even more challenging.—
Nicola Twilley,
The New Yorker,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But since his accident, Edwards has dedicated his life to exploration, already completing more physically demanding challenges than most do in a lifetime.—
Amy Woodyatt,
CNN,
31 Jan. 2025
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Best for Conservationists John Muir Way, Scotland Not to be confused with California’s more demanding John Muir Trail, the John Muir Way is a relatively new route (established around 10 years ago) that stretches coast to coast across Muir’s home country of Scotland.—
Megan Michelson,
Outside Online,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Victims of the California wildfires have a long and arduous road ahead of them.—
Jill Schlesinger,
The Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2025
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From Broderick Turner: The Clippers are in the middle of their most arduous part of the regular season, playing six games in nine days — a stretch that threatens to push them to their limits.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Strings — and the fact the Nampa show happens May 20, before Idaho temperatures boil — makes this music lineup tough to resist.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
3 Feb. 2025
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On the other hand, Hill has had a tough time recently.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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In today's digital age, companies are entrusted with vast amounts of personal data, and breaches like this demonstrate the need for rigorous security measures.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
4 Feb. 2025
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Every credit card story is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit products.—
Ryley Amond,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Native to Puerto Rico and parts of the Leeward Islands, cowboy prickly pear can grow to 10 feet tall in the wild.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Jan. 2025
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The street had been engulfed in 40-foot tall flames supported by 70-plus-mph winds; one of the homes in front of us, now just rubble and ash, belonged to another member of the Brigade, Tyler Hauptman.—
Emma Marie Jenkinson,
Vogue,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.—
Alia Wong,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2023
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Whether those numbers are an overstatement, or possibly an understatement, is hard to say.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
13 Feb. 2023
Thesaurus Entries Near grueling
Cite this Entry
“Grueling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grueling. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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