| Main Entry: | torturous |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | tormenting |
Synonyms: |
agonizing, anguishing, bothersome, distressing, excruciating, harrowing, harrying, plaguing, punishing, troubling, trying, vexing |
| Notes: | tortuous is 'winding, crooked, full of twists and turns' and torturous (based on 'torture') is 'painful, characterized by suffering' |
| Main Entry: | grueling |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | difficult, taxing |
Synonyms: |
arduous, backbreaking, brutal, chastening, crushing, demanding, excruciating, exhausting, fatiguing, fierce, grinding, hairy*, hard, harsh, heavy*, laborious, punishing, racking, severe, stiff, strenuous, tiring, torturous, trying |
| Notes: | grueling means characterized by physical effort to the point of exhaustion; gruesome means shockingly repellent, inspiring horror |
Antonyms: |
easy, facile |
| Main Entry: | harrowing |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | dangerous, frightening |
Synonyms: |
agonizing, alarming, chilling, distressing, disturbing, excruciating, heart-rending, heartbreaking, nerve-racking, painful, racking, soaring, tearing, terrifying, tormenting, torturing, torturous, traumatic |
Antonyms: |
calming, pleasant, pleasing, unfrightening |
| Main Entry: | anguishing |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | tormenting |
Synonyms: |
agonizing, excruciating, harrowing, painful, suffering, torturing, torturous |
| Main Entry: | tormenting |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | very painful |
Synonyms: |
agonizing, anguishing, distressing, disturbing, excruciating, extreme, fierce, harrowing, intense, racking, struggling, suffering, tearing, tortuous, torturing, torturous, vehement, violent |