gut-wrenching

adjective

gut-wrench·​ing ˈgət-ˌren-chiŋ How to pronounce gut-wrenching (audio)
: causing mental or emotional anguish

Examples of gut-wrenching in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
After the gut-wrenching loss at Washington, the Bears now have to process being run over by a middle-of-the-road Cardinals team that is 5-4 and was ransacked by the Commanders earlier. Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2024 The World Series is over, culminating in a gut-wrenching defeat for the New York Yankees with the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrating at Yankee Stadium. Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 Parry Punch posted this sweet but gut-wrenching photo of Ngannou and his son Kobe. Brian Mazique, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024 Coming off a gut-wrenching extra-inning loss in Game 3, the Yankees came out swinging. Homero De La Fuente, CNN, 19 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gut-wrenching 

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gut-wrenching was in 1972

Dictionary Entries Near gut-wrenching

Cite this Entry

“Gut-wrenching.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gut-wrenching. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on gut-wrenching

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!