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Definition of grueling

grueling

/ˈɡruː.əl.ɪŋ/
(UK: gruelling)
gru · el · ing
Adverb:gruelingly
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grueling Lexical Profile

grueling Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

American Extremely tiring and demanding to the point of physical or mental exhaustion.

Example

"The marathon runners prepared for months to endure the grueling twenty-six-mile course through the mountains."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for grueling
Antonyms
View all antonyms for grueling

Word Nuance & Usage

Spelled "grueling" in American English and "gruelling" in British English.

• Nearby Words

grudging
grudgingly
gruel
grueling
gruesome
gruesomely
gruesomeness

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived in the mid-19th century from the present participle of the verb "gruel" (meaning to exhaust or punish severely), which originated from the slang phrase "to get one's gruel," referring to receiving a harsh punishment.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Grueling. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/grueling
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