gruelling

== English == === Etymology 1 === By surface analysis, gruel +‎ -ing. ==== Alternative forms ==== grueling (American spelling) === Etymology 2 === From present participle of gruel (“to exhaust, punish”), from gruel (noun). ==== Pronunciation ==== (UK) IPA(key): /ˈɡɹʊə.lɪŋ/ (US) IPA(key): /ˈɡɹu.lɪŋ/, /ˈɡɹu.əl.ɪŋ/ Hyphenation: gru‧el‧ing ==== Adjective ==== gruelling (comparative more gruelling, superlative most gruelling) (British spelling) Very difficult or taxing; exhausting; backbreaking. ===== Synonyms ===== (so difficult or taxing as to make one exhausted): backbreaking, exhausting, taxing ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Noun ==== gruelling (plural gruellings) (horse racing) A race in which the animal being raced finishes in a state of physical exhaustion. A gruelling ordeal. ==== Verb ==== gruelling present participle and gerund of gruel