Finesentence logo

Gruelling: meaning, definitions and examples

💪
Add to dictionary

gruelling

 

[ ˈɡruː.əl.ɪŋ ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

extremely exhausting

The term 'gruelling' is often used to describe something that is extremely tiring or demanding. It can refer to physical activities, such as a tough workout or an arduous journey, as well as to mental or emotional challenges that require significant effort and perseverance. Often associated with difficulty and hardship, the word captures the intensity of the experience, emphasizing the toll it takes on a person. In many contexts, tasks described as gruelling are so challenging that they push individuals to their limits.

Synonyms

arduous, demanding, exhausting, strenuous, taxing

Examples of usage

  • The marathon was a gruelling test of endurance.
  • She faced a gruelling schedule during her final exams.
  • The hike became a gruelling ordeal in the heat.
  • Training for the competition was gruelling but rewarding.

Translations

Translations of the word "gruelling" in other languages:

🇵🇹 exaustivo

🇮🇳 कष्टदायक

🇩🇪 anstrengend

🇮🇩 menyiksa

🇺🇦 виснажливий

🇵🇱 wyczerpujący

🇯🇵 厳しい

🇫🇷 épuisant

🇪🇸 agotador

🇹🇷 zorlayıcı

🇰🇷 고된

🇸🇦 مرهق

🇨🇿 vyčerpávající

🇸🇰 vyčerpávajúci

🇨🇳 艰难的

🇸🇮 naporen

🇮🇸 þreytandi

🇰🇿 та exhausting

🇬🇪 გამომწურავი

🇦🇿 yorucu

🇲🇽 agotador

Etymology

The word 'gruelling' originally derives from the verb 'gruel,' which means to exhaust or tire through hard work. The term 'gruel' itself can be traced back to the Middle English 'gruuele,' meaning a thin flour or meal preparation, which metaphorically signifies a sustenance that one works hard for just to endure. The suffix '-ing' added to create 'gruelling' accentuates the ongoing nature of the experience. Over time, 'gruelling' has evolved specifically to describe extreme persistency in work or other exhausting activities and is commonly used in contemporary language to portray challenging physical feats or intense labor situations that demand significant effort.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #32,042 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.