GRUELING Synonyms: 105 Similar and Opposite Words

grueling

adjective

ˈgrü-ə-liŋ

variants or gruelling

Definition of grueling

as in difficult

requiring considerable physical or mental effort running a marathon is grueling

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in challenging

requiring much time, effort, or careful attention cutting diamonds can be grueling work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of grueling After a grueling couple of days for tech stocks—propelled by drama and speculation around CoreWeave’s debt—traders bought the dip in the last 24 hours and stocks rose globally. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 After another stop from the Panther defense, North Crowley’s offense caught a spark with a grueling, relentless tempo. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2026 As 2016 neared, Thomas’ bandmates expected to reconvene for a 20th anniversary tour, however he was focused on 2015’s The Great Unknown, largely inspired by wife Marisol’s grueling health battles. — Leena Tailor, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026 The former child star, 22, is one of 15 celebrities competing on season 5 of Fox’s grueling reality competition show. — Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grueling

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grueling

Adjective

Jarman, who came in as the defending champion on the event, put together a more difficult routine but was nicked by judges for his execution.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
This is the last remaining game on the schedule that should be very difficult.

— David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of difficult

Adjective

Such calculations are part of a wider effort to understand why molecular simulations remain challenging.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
But the shift in college athletics has required an internal reconciling that is even more challenging than the external education.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of challenging

Adjective

And as routine tasks are automated, workers could lose opportunities to develop the experience needed for more demanding work.

— Lindsay Dodgson, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
The Sun enters your 12th House, drawing your attention toward rest, reflection, privacy, unfinished matters, and everything easier to hear when the outside world becomes less demanding.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of demanding

Adjective

Like SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, many founders in tech have moonshot performance pay packages, in which rigorous stock price growth is tied to massive pay hurdles.

— Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Every travel story is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of travel products.

— Liz Knueven, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of rigorous

Adjective

There’s too much here to be effectively explored in a feature, even a 131-minute one whose length is all the more impressive given how arduous stop-motion is as a process.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Creative endeavor, in the space of a few hours, flashes its many faces, arduous and sexy, fleeting and fun.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of arduous

Adjective

In a century where the lives of billions are defined by chronic disease, demographic change, and digital systems, China has become one of the central proving grounds for some of the hardest issues in global health.

— Ruby Wang, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Next year's public spending review — when the government sets future budgets for departments and public services — could be even harder for lawmakers who appear averse to any cuts.

— Ian King, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of hard

Browse Nearby Words

grudgingly

grueling

gruesome

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Grueling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grueling. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of grueling

adjective

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