grueling
Americanadjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of grueling
First recorded in 1850–55; slang gruel “punishment” (noun), “to punish” (verb) + -ing 1, -ing 2
Explanation
If a job is grueling, that means it is really difficult. If a race is grueling, that means it is really difficult. If a trip to the dentist is grueling, that means you need to toughen up. Once upon a time in a land far far away (like eighteenth century England) there was an expression, to “get one’s gruel,” which meant “receive one’s punishment.” This saying morphed into the word grueling, which can be applied to any punishing activity. Presumably, to “get one’s gruel” involved horrible punishments, but now the more pampered among us might even find a long tennis match grueling.
Vocabulary lists containing grueling
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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.
The Lakers were beginning a grueling five-game, seven-day stretch, but Vanderbilt was on the practice court in a full sweat at full speed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026
"We have prosperity, consistency, growth, recovery and opportunity" Tinubu, who has staked his first term on wide-ranging but grueling economic reforms, told a crowded rally in northwestern Kaduna state.
From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2026
The Dodgers not only have played more games than any other team the last two years, but their schedule has included grueling travel.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
The ladder leads to a grueling work schedule and a work title that doesn’t cover rent.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
It would be a grueling task, so they selected workers who they thought were strong enough to complete it successfully and divided them into teams of three.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
