wringer

American  

[ring-er] / ˈrɪŋ ər /

noun

1. an apparatus or machine for squeezing liquid out of anything wet, such as a pair of rollers between which an article of wet clothing may be squeezed.

2. a painful, difficult, or tiring experience; ordeal.

   Their years-long disagreement was an emotional wringer that hurt them both deeply.

3. a person or thing that wrings.

   My father is a real worrier—a wringer of hands and a pacer of floors.

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idioms

1. through the wringer,

   1. through acute suffering or hardship.

      He’s really been through the wringer with his child’s illness.

      A series of disasters put her family through the wringer financially.

   2. through rigorous testing, examination, or trial.

      Our numbers have been run through the wringer every which way, and it still looks like some cuts will be needed.

      Keep an eye out for a full review once we put this racing bike through the wringer.

wringer British  

/ ˈrɪŋə /

noun

1. another name for mangle 2

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wringer More Idioms  

1. see under put through (the wringer).

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Etymology

Origin of wringer

First recorded in 1250–1300; wring ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wringer

After putting these VPNs through the wringer, here’s the bottom line: NordVPN is our overall winner because it nails that sweet spot of features, performance, and price.

From Salon ● Feb. 11, 2026

A book that will put you through the emotional wringer, Brar says it was inspired "by the love my father had in running his sub-Post Office for over twenty years".

From BBC ● Dec. 24, 2025

These women have been through the wringer of romance, yet it’s rare to see them learn from these experiences.

From Salon ● May 5, 2025

England fans are used to their teams putting them through the wringer.

From BBC ● Feb. 8, 2025

He did not want to be a wringer.

From "Wringer" by Jerry Spinelli

Related Words

• inquiry
• investigation
• query
• questioning