harrowing
adjective
har·row·ing
ˈher-ə-wiŋ 
ˈha-rə-
: acutely distressing or painful
a harrowing experience
Mr. Wu's work in a coal mine was particularly harrowing.—
Charles Horner
Charles Horner
harrowingly
adverb
Examples of harrowing in a Sentence
a harrowing portrayal of the ravages of war
the harrowing amputations without any anesthetic that soldiers and sailors once were forced to endure
Recent Examples on the Web
Where Civil War envisioned a dark future, Warfare conjures a specific, harrowing day from Mendoza’s past.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2025
Writing and directing with Garland, Mendoza took a uniquely forensic approach to the harrowing 24-hour ordeal, relying on the collective memories of everyone involved to achieve visceral authenticity.
—Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 12 Apr. 2025
Comments The Pitt's first season ended on a melancholic note as the staff tries to unplug after a harrowing shift.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Because the medical stuff is incredible, but watching Robby attempt to hold himself together for this entire harrowing shift has been just as gripping.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
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David Sims, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2025
Writing and directing with Garland, Mendoza took a uniquely forensic approach to the harrowing 24-hour ordeal, relying on the collective memories of everyone involved to achieve visceral authenticity.
—Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 12 Apr. 2025
Comments The Pitt's first season ended on a melancholic note as the staff tries to unplug after a harrowing shift.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Because the medical stuff is incredible, but watching Robby attempt to hold himself together for this entire harrowing shift has been just as gripping.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harrowing
Cite this Entry
“Harrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harrowing. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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