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.
Bibi Jan, a 70-year-old who grows beans and potatoes, said farming can be gruelling.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
Cameron Norrie suffered a rare Wimbledon first-round upset as he lost a gruelling five-setter to qualifier Michael Zheng in a disappointing opening day for British players.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
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
For Annabel's father Peter, a retired judge, the trial was a "gruelling" experience.
From BBC ● Jun. 9, 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.
