as in gruesome
informal
causing great mental or emotional pain
gut-wrenching decisions the novel's gut-wrenching opening scene
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gut-wrenching
The joy in the kids’ eyes will be a stark contrast to the gut-wrenching stares of less-privileged children on the nightly news.
—
Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2025
Victims endure gut-wrenching physical and mental abuse, leading to lasting trauma.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2025
After a gut-wrenching 19% drawdown in the S&P 500, the stock market staged a remarkable recovery to end the first half of the year in positive territory.
—Garth Friesen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Then, in the final few scenes, a gut-wrenching piece of news is delivered involving Jaja and ICE agents.
—Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for gut-wrenching
Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2025
Victims endure gut-wrenching physical and mental abuse, leading to lasting trauma.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2025
After a gut-wrenching 19% drawdown in the S&P 500, the stock market staged a remarkable recovery to end the first half of the year in positive territory.
—Garth Friesen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Then, in the final few scenes, a gut-wrenching piece of news is delivered involving Jaja and ICE agents.
—Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for gut-wrenching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gut-wrenching
Adjective
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But the gruesome truth remains — more than 120 are people are dead, including children.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
11 July 2025
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Other all-original haunted houses will include Jason Universe, which takes guests back to the summer camp where, one Friday the 13th, the gruesome legend was born.—
Tom Tapp,
Deadline,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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California homeowner’s insurance premiums were already rising before the horrific Southern California wildfires in January.—
Scott Cohn,
CNBC,
11 July 2025
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But the first lady and I are here in Texas to express the love and support and the anguish of our entire nation in the aftermath of this really horrific and deadly flood.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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Cody Bellinger, a terrific defender, couldn’t find an Ernie Clement flyball in the lights in the sixth inning, which officially resulted in a one-out triple.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
24 July 2025
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This generates terrific tidal forces within the star that simultaneously squash it horizontally while stretching it vertically.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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Contract disputes involving All-Pro members of the Dallas Cowboys are hardly shocking this time of year.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Aug. 2025
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The Too Much creator recently shared her vision for a film based on the shocking affair between Tom Sandoval and Rachel Leviss that was unpacked during the Bravo reality show’s Season 10 reunion in 2023, as Sandoval’s estranged ex Ariana Madix had the chance to confront them both.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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In the meantime, Brandy has been reflecting on the terrifying experience.—
Wendy Grossman Kantor,
People.com,
25 July 2025
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In one of the film's most surprising sequences, his character golfs the best game of his life during a terrifying storm, misses a putt, curses God, and gets struck by lightning.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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The Singer Sisters is a totally fresh and original rock & roll saga of a family full of formidable, creative, unforgettable women.—
Gabrielle Bellot,
Literary Hub,
1 Aug. 2025
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Minnesota Twins – Faced with formidable financial worries, the former home of Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Rod Carew, and Jim Kaat spent the deadline dumping salaries.—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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One of the most effectively frightening gags in the movie is little more than an actor in ghoulish makeup tunneling under a bedsheet.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
31 July 2025
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And frightening, even to the leaders around Xi Jinping in Beijing.—
Kerry Brown,
Time,
29 July 2025
Adjective
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My heart goes out to all of the Jewish children, grandchildren and future great-grandchildren who must ultimately bear the brunt of the terrible additional worldwide antisemitism caused directly by the horrific actions of the Israeli government over the past two years.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Aug. 2025
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Friday was particularly unsettling as terrible jobs data slammed the market and triggered President Donald Trump .—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
2 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gut-wrenching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gut-wrenching. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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