punishing
adj. B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈpənɪʃɪŋ// UK //pˈʌnɪʃɪŋ// pun·ish·ing
adj. extremely difficult and tiring to deal with. You use this to describe a task or schedule that is so hard it feels like a punishment.
adj. extremely arduous or physically demanding; causing exhaustion or severe strain. Often used to describe schedules, workloads, or physical activities.
The athletes follow a punishing training schedule every day.
After a punishing twelve-hour shift at the hospital, the nurses were too exhausted to even speak to one another.
The central bank's decision to maintain high interest rates has created a punishing environment for small businesses already struggling with rising energy costs and decreased consumer spending.
Usage
Often follows a linking verb or precedes a noun related to work, exercise, or time.