adj
C1
Advanced
gruelling
GROOR-lihng
Gruelling (adj) means Extremely demanding, exhausting, or difficult to endure. Example: “She completed a gruelling marathon through the mountains.”
adj
1
Extremely demanding, exhausting, or difficult to endure.
"She completed a gruelling marathon through the mountains."
"It was a gruelling week of back-to-back exams."
How to use gruelling
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPhysically or mentally punishing and exhausting.
UK vs US
British English spells it "gruelling"; American English usually drops one L to "grueling."
Common pairings
a gruelling schedule
gruelling training
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like gruelling.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- gruellings
- Comparative
- more gruelling
- Superlative
- most gruelling
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She completed a _____ marathon through the mountains.
Etymology
From the verb gruel, meaning to exhaust or punish, itself derived from the noun gruel.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for gruelling
telling
welling
selling
yelling
felling
spelling
dwelling
swelling
smelling
shelling
modelling
expelling
See all rhymes for gruelling →
Frequently asked questions
What does “gruelling” mean?
The word “gruelling” means extremely demanding, exhausting, or difficult to endure. In plain terms, physically or mentally punishing and exhausting.
How do you pronounce “gruelling”?
“Gruelling” is pronounced GROOR-lihng (/ˈɡɹu.lɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “gruelling” in a sentence?
Here is “gruelling” used in a sentence: “She completed a gruelling marathon through the mountains.”
What part of speech is “gruelling”?
“Gruelling” is an adjective.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include gruelling:
