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harrowingextremely distressing or painful; causing great suffering or anguish

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: extremely distressing or painful; causing great suffering or anguish

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈhæroʊɪŋ/

Korean meaning: 극도로 괴롭고 고통스러운; 큰 고통이나 번민을 일으키는

Korean pronunciation: **해**로잉

Example Sentences

  • The movie was so harrowing that half the audience left during the zombie scene.
  • My harrowing experience of assembling IKEA furniture without instructions lasted six hours.
  • The survivors gave harrowing testimonies about the natural disaster.

harrowing

ADJECTIVE

//ˈhæroʊɪŋ//

extremely distressing or painful; causing great suffering or anguish

harrowing concept
💡 Concept

a mountain rescuer reaches desperately toward a injured climber who dangles from a broken rope on the cliff edge. The climber's face shows intense pain and terror as they struggle to hold on with freezing hands. Strong winds and snow whip around them making the rescue nearly impossible. The rope continues to fray dangerously as precious seconds tick away. Other rescue team members below shout instructions while fighting against the harsh weather conditions. The injured climber's strength visibly fades as they battle both physical pain and overwhelming fear. an extremely distressing and painful situation causing great suffering and anguish

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈhæroʊɪŋ/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈhærəʊɪŋ/

🌳Etymology

Rootharrow
Suffix--ing

Origin

From the agricultural tool 'harrow,' which breaks up and tears through soil after plowing. The emotional meaning developed from the idea that distressing experiences 'harrow' or tear through one's feelings like the tool tears through earth.

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🎵Rhyme

narrowingborrowing
narrowing
borrowing

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📝Examples

😄 Fun example

The movie was so harrowing that half the audience left during the zombie scene.

😄 Fun example

My harrowing experience of assembling IKEA furniture without instructions lasted six hours.

The survivors gave harrowing testimonies about the natural disaster.

😄 Fun example

It was harrowing to watch my grandmother try to use social media for the first time.

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📚Related Words

Synonyms

agonizingtraumaticdistressingexcruciatingtorturous

Antonyms

pleasantcomfortingsoothing

Related

harrowharassmenthorrifyingheartrending