grueling

[ groo-uh-ling, groo-ling ]

adjective

1. exhausting; very tiring; arduously severe:

   the grueling Boston marathon.

noun

1. any trying or exhausting procedure or experience.

Other Words From

• gruel·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of grueling¹

First recorded in 1850–55; slang gruel “punishment” (noun), “to punish” (verb) + -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Ultimately, much of the material in the book, including Hughes’ cinematic escape from prison and multiple grueling hunger strikes, was cut so that the Price sisters’ journey of radicalization and regret would take center stage.

From Los Angeles Times

The 32-mile Catalina Classic is one of the most grueling endurance contests on the planet — an ultra-marathon of the sea — and an annual rite of passage in Southern California surf culture.

From Los Angeles Times

On Wednesday night — by no means an atypical one — Russia staged a grueling eight-hour aerial attack on Kyiv, with dozens of drones buzzing overhead and near-constant alerts making sleep nearly impossible.

From Los Angeles Times

But Farrow is made of milder material and was understandably nervous about the grueling commitment.

From Los Angeles Times

He’ll have to relentlessly raise money, spend countless hours voting on, say, naming post offices, and deal with a grueling weekly commute back and forth from Long Island.

From Slate

Related Words

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