harrowing

1 of 2

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

harrowing

2 of 2

present participle of harrow entry 1, harrow entry 3

Synonyms of harrowing

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Adjective

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Examples of harrowing in a Sentence

Adjective 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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Adjective
In the days that followed, Iran International broadcast harrowing testimony from survivors who spoke about the violence. — Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026 Heat president Pat Riley has long believed the teams with championship aspirations need older veterans around their core, players with the savviness, mettle and experience to thrive during harrowing postseason moments. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Aug. 2026 Written and directed by Nolan, The Odyssey stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca, on his harrowing, years-long journey home after the Trojan War. — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Wilson, 39, went on to detail the harrowing experience of his daughter’s birth. — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for harrowing

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of harrow entry 3

First Known Use

Adjective

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 1 Sep. 2026.

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