Word
grueling
Phoneticsgru·el·ing, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɡɹuɪɫɪŋ/
UK/ɡɹˈuːəlɪŋ/
UK spelling · gruelling
Definition
adj. extremely tiring and difficult. You use this to describe a task or journey that takes a lot of effort and leaves you feeling exhausted.
adj. extremely demanding and exhausting. Often describes physical or mental tasks that require intense effort over a long period.
Examples
“The runners finished a grueling race in the heat.”
“After a grueling ten-hour shift at the hospital, the nurse was too tired to even cook dinner.”
“The legal team endured a grueling month of discovery, reviewing thousands of documents daily to meet the court's strict deadline for the upcoming trial.”
Examples
simple
“The runners finished a grueling race in the heat.”
contextual
“After a grueling ten-hour shift at the hospital, the nurse was too tired to even cook dinner.”
complex
“The legal team endured a grueling month of discovery, reviewing thousands of documents daily to meet the court's strict deadline for the upcoming trial.”
Usage
Commonly modifies nouns related to physical effort like 'schedule', 'workout', 'race', or 'journey'.
Real-World Examples
“After trawling through emails, talking to Chloe’s friends and colleagues and holding the Treasury to account in a gruelling, multi-day coroner’s court hearing, they found out their daughter had been mistreated by her employer.” “Hearts held firm at the end of a gruelling week to close out an unconvincing 2-1 home win over St Johnstone and climb to second in the table.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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