gruelling
Britishadjective
noun
Etymology
Origin of gruelling
C19: from now obsolete vb gruel to exhaust, punish
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.
It is so gruelling that its Asia tournament in Hong Kong was billed as "physical hell", with player Leo Lines admitting that "anyone that's got the puck" is going through "some level of suffering".
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026
Kartal had to face 13 break points in a gruelling set, losing serve three times as Chwalinska forced a decider.
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026
That would, in theory at least, set a firm and realistic agenda, cutting the endless hours of gruelling negotiations that often dominate COP meetings before votes are taken on individual technical points.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
The rugby star's gruelling mission will end on Saturday at Old Trafford in Manchester, when Sir Kevin arrives ahead of the Super League Grand Final.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
As soon as this happened, they cheerfully abandoned the gruelling, dangerous, and often spartan life of hunter-gatherers, settling down to enjoy the pleasant, satiated life of farmers.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
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