wrenching
adj. C1 Advanced US //ˈɹɛntʃɪŋ// UK //ɹˈɛntʃɪŋ// wrench·ing
adj. causing great emotional pain or sadness. It describes a feeling that is so strong it feels like your heart is being pulled or twisted.
adj. causing intense emotional distress or physical pain. Often used to describe experiences that are deeply moving or traumatic; frequently appears in the participial form modifying nouns like 'experience', 'decision', or 'loss'.
It was a wrenching decision to leave my home.
The documentary provides a wrenching account of the families separated during the war.
The author captures the wrenching transition from childhood to adulthood with a level of honesty that makes the protagonist's small failures feel like monumental tragedies.
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun to describe an event or emotion.