grueling

[groo-uh-ling, groo-ling] / ˈgru ə lɪŋ, ˈgru lɪŋ /

ADJECTIVE

difficult, taxing

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arduous backbreaking brutal demanding excruciating exhausting fierce laborious punishing strenuous tiring torturous trying

WEAK

chastening crushing fatiguing grinding hairy hard harsh heavy racking severe stiff

Antonyms

STRONGEST

easy effortless facile gentle kind trivial

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She keeps a grueling schedule, arriving at security meetings every weekday at 6 a.m., impeccably dressed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

Enacting change at the federal level has been a grueling process.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

LaRavia credited good luck, an iron will and a dedicated weight training regimen for helping him survive the grueling season.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

But it’d be fun, not too physically grueling.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

I’d had a long, grueling day, riding sixty miles and walking a half dozen more.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Vocabulary lists containing grueling

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