harrowing

adjective

har·​row·​ing ˈher-ə-wiŋ How to pronounce harrowing (audio)
ˈha-rə-
Synonyms of harrowing
: acutely distressing or painful
a harrowing experience
Mr. Wu's work in a coal mine was particularly harrowing.—Charles Horner
harrowingly adverb

Synonyms of harrowing

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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
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The movie, a harrowing account of one family’s separation during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, earned Watts an Oscar nomination for best actress and marked Holland’s acting debut in a live-action feature film. — Zack Sharf, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026 His consumption of the sleeping medication was further exacerbated by Caroline’s death and led him to experience several harrowing seizures due to withdrawal. — David Chiu, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026 Phil Collins recalled a harrowing chapter in his battle against alcohol addiction. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026 Colin Gray’s sentencing represents the end of a harrowing road that began with the September 2024 shooting in which his son, then 14, fatally shot two students and two teachers and injured nine others at his Winder, Georgia, high school. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for harrowing

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of harrow entry 3

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of harrowing was in 1799

Rhymes for harrowing

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Browse Nearby Words

harrower
harrowing
harrow-plow
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Cite this Entry

“Harrowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harrowing. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on harrowing

Nglish: Translation of harrowing for Spanish Speakers

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