harrowing

[har-oh-ing]

adjective

1. extremely disturbing or distressing; grievous.

   a harrowing experience.

   Synonyms: heartbreaking, agonizing, painful

Other Word Forms

• harrowingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of harrowing¹

First recorded in 1800–10; harrow ¹ + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Likewise, “Adolescence,” the towering English autopsy of youth spent online, a harrowing drama masterminded by actor Stephen Graham and directed by Philip Barantini, who filmed his four episodes in four uncut takes.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The 50-year-old's mask of respectability was ripped away in 2021 as an avalanche of testimonies piled up from women describing harrowing abuse he inflicted upon them.

Read more on BBC

Here is what we know about the harrowing claims of the so-called "weekend snipers" during the war that killed more than 100,000 people and left Bosnia and Herzegovina deeply scarred.

Read more on Barron's

A footballing mausoleum of memories and moments, both awe-inspiring and harrowing.

Read more on BBC

His portrait of his breakdown is harrowing and believable.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• agonizing 
• chilling 
• distressing www.thesaurus.com
• disturbing 
• excruciating 
• heart-wrenching 
• heartbreaking 
• painful 
• terrifying 
• torturous 
• traumatic