grueling

especially British, gru·el·ling

[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 Word Forms

• gruelingly 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

The grueling attrition produced surprises, however, like Magdeleine Vallieries, a Canadian professional who paid for her own plane ticket to Rwanda, and triumphed in the women’s elite race by charging away from the tired favorites.

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But they have taken extra urgency among players who are actively lobbying for more control over their grueling schedule and working environment.

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The only affecting one in the entire picture is a grueling extended argument between Mark and Dawn, scored to Bruce Springsteen’s “Jungleland,” that captures the roiling nature of their passion.

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After back-to-back grueling seasons, the Dodgers celebrated a hard-won division title and hope their regular season adversity fuels a playoff run.

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“Touring has become so expensive and it’s incredibly grueling, so it’s hard to justify now,” Daltrey says.

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Related Words

• arduous 
• backbreaking 
• brutal 
• demanding 
• excruciating 
• exhausting 
• fierce 
• laborious 
• punishing 
• strenuous 
• tiring www.thesaurus.com
• torturous 
• trying