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
As dark occurrences begin to shatter the quiet of their isolated home, the boy is forced to navigate a harrowing psychological nightmare where the line between real-world madness and supernatural terror blurs. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026 Those who managed to secure release under habeas corpus brought back accounts of harrowing, disorganized odysseys through an ad-hoc mass-detention bureaucracy. — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 But those survivors, who each have harrowing stories of their own, are still searching for answers about their still missing friends, coworkers, and family members. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026 In a harrowing reality for the rest of the NFL, two of them are now set to occupy the same defensive line this season. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 31 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 3 Sep. 2026.

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