- a variation of grueling.
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.
Much of Western Europe was sweltering in a gruelling heatwave on Friday with the mercury expected to continue rising in the coming days, likely shattering yet more temperature records.
From Barron's • Jun. 19, 2026
Iraq endured a gruelling 21-game qualifying run – the most fixtures of any nation - which included numerous different rounds and play-offs to become the last team to secure their place at the tournament.
From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026
Hyodol's character was designed to be dependent on its user, as many older Koreans have spent their lives enduring gruelling work to provide for their families, Kim said.
From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026
Bollywood's long-entrenched culture of gruelling work schedules is facing rare scrutiny, as top actors and filmmakers clash over calls to cap shooting days at eight hours.
From Barron's • Jun. 2, 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
Definitions 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.
