grueling
adjective
gru·el·ing ˈgrü-ə-liŋ 
variants or gruelling
: trying or taxing to the point of exhaustion : punishing
a grueling race
gruelingly
ˈgrü-ə-liŋ-lē
adverb 
Synonyms
- arduous
- Augean
- backbreaking
- challenging
- demanding
- difficult
- effortful
- exacting
- formidable
- hard
- heavy
- hellacious
- herculean
- killer
- laborious
- moiling
- murderous
- pick-and-shovel
- rigorous
- rough
- rugged
- severe
- stiff
- strenuous
- sweaty
- tall
- testing
- toilsome
- tough
- uphill
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
running a marathon is grueling cutting diamonds can be grueling work
Recent Examples on the Web The four-strong team made up of current and former servicemen who dubbed themselves the Legless Rowers became the first all-amputee crew to cross an ocean after taking part in a grueling race against able-bodied participants. 
Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 30 Aug. 2022 The Cartier Cheich was created to reflect the spirit of the original Paris-Dakar, a grueling 10,000-kilometre (6,200 miles) race from Paris through the Sahara Desert to the Dakar, Senegal. Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 The grueling race started in 1979, demanding drivers complete a 6,200-mile route from France to Senegal running through the Sahara Desert. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 12 July 2022 The transboundary nature of the grueling long-distance race, which many mushers believe to be more exacting than its higher-profile sibling, the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, complicated operations during the pandemic. Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 3 May 2022 Park was an avid runner who participated in the famed Baker to Vegas, a grueling annual 120-mile relay race run by law enforcement teams. San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2021 The work is grueling and too complicated to be automated. Elian Peltier, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Aug. 2022 Delving into the toxic relationship between two struggling teenagers, The Girl From Plainville is grueling but rewarding viewing. Liz Cantrell, Town & Country, 8 Aug. 2022 Restaurant work can be particularly grueling, yet the company ranked No. 1 among largest employers in The Post’s 2022 Top Workplaces competition. Beth Decarbo, Washington Post, 17 June 2022 See More
Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 30 Aug. 2022 The Cartier Cheich was created to reflect the spirit of the original Paris-Dakar, a grueling 10,000-kilometre (6,200 miles) race from Paris through the Sahara Desert to the Dakar, Senegal. Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 12 Aug. 2022 The grueling race started in 1979, demanding drivers complete a 6,200-mile route from France to Senegal running through the Sahara Desert. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 12 July 2022 The transboundary nature of the grueling long-distance race, which many mushers believe to be more exacting than its higher-profile sibling, the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, complicated operations during the pandemic. Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 3 May 2022 Park was an avid runner who participated in the famed Baker to Vegas, a grueling annual 120-mile relay race run by law enforcement teams. San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2021 The work is grueling and too complicated to be automated. Elian Peltier, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Aug. 2022 Delving into the toxic relationship between two struggling teenagers, The Girl From Plainville is grueling but rewarding viewing. Liz Cantrell, Town & Country, 8 Aug. 2022 Restaurant work can be particularly grueling, yet the company ranked No. 1 among largest employers in The Post’s 2022 Top Workplaces competition. Beth Decarbo, Washington Post, 17 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
from present participle of obsolete gruel to exhaust, punish, from gruel, noun
First Known Use
1852, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
grueling
adjective
gru·el·ing
variants or gruelling
ˈgrü-ə-liŋ
: calling for great effort
a grueling job
grueling
adjective
variants or gruelling
1
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort running a marathon is grueling Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- difficult
- challenging
- demanding
- tough
- rigorous
- tall
- hard
- arduous
- testing
- complicated
- strenuous
- involved
- formidable
- severe
- backbreaking
- exhausting
- trying
- stressful
- laborious
- sweaty
- painful
- heavy
- murderous
- toilsome
- exacting
- uphill
- herculean
- serious
- annoying
- effortful
- problematic
- hellacious
- intricate
- hairy
- killer
- elusive
- rough
- complex
- rugged
- stiff
- problematical
- moiling
- oppressive
- brutal
- taxing
- tricky
- onerous
- pick-and-shovel
- burdensome
- bruising
- labored
- stubborn
- abstract
- troublesome
- thorny
- abstruse
- Augean
- irksome
- tight
- recondite
- knotty
- strict
- insoluble
- stringent
- opaque
- ticklish
- vexatious
- spiny
- bothersome
- cruel
- grim
- distressing
- inhuman
- grievous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- easy
- simple
- effortless
- undemanding
- doable
- light
- mindless
- soft
- uncomplicated
- facile
- cheap
- elementary
- achievable
- smooth
- clear
- painless
- gentle
- manageable
- soothing
- comforting
- relaxed
- friendly
- accessible
- user-friendly
- idiotproof
2
as in challenging
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention cutting diamonds can be grueling work Synonyms & Similar Words
- challenging
- difficult
- arduous
- tough
- laborious
- onerous
- taxing
- burdensome
- demanding
- hard
- exacting
- killing
- toilsome
- strenuous
- testing
- formidable
- rigorous
- persnickety
- oppressive
- trying
- herculean
- rough
- stringent
- rugged
- stiff
- severe
- strict
- rigid
- stern
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- undemanding
- unchallenging
- easy
- light
- simple
- smooth
- effortless
- nondemanding
- facile
- straddle-legged
- straddleback
- straddlebug
- straddled
- straddled the fence
- straddler
- straddlers
- straddles
- straddles the fence
- straddleways
- straddlewise
- straddling
- straddling the fence
- straddlingly
- stradiot
- stradiots
- Stradivari
- stradivarii
- stradivaris
- Stradivarius
- stradivariuses
- strads
- straes
- strafe
- strafed