adjective
harrowing
HAIR-oh-ing/ˈhærəʊɪŋ/
Extremely distressing or painful to experience.
The frightened adult endures a harrowing rescue from the rushing floodwater.
Etymology
The harrow’s soil-tearing action became a figurative verb for wounding the feelings. Its participle, harrowing, describes an experience that causes this kind of intense emotional distress.
In context
long Covid has left nurse Brenda Eadie penniless, as she has had to give up her job in Low Moss prison. Brenda’s harrowing story was echoed by that of another nurse
More examples
- Driving home through the blizzard is a harrowing experience.
- She still has nightmares about the harrowing rescue.
- The documentary includes harrowing interviews with former prisoners.
Forms
harrowing
Similar words
- distressing
- Causes emotional upset, but need not suggest severe suffering.
- traumatic
- Suggests lasting psychological harm, not just intense distress during an experience.