as in gruesome
informal
causing great mental or emotional pain
gut-wrenching decisions the novel's gut-wrenching opening scene
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gut-wrenching
The Commanders' loss was a stark contrast to the Eagles' dominant performance at Lincoln Financial Field, while the Buffalo Bills, who were also looking for redemption, fell 32-29 to the Kansas City Chiefs in another gut-wrenching playoff defeat at Arrowhead Stadium.
—
Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
In Squid Game, participants face this gut-wrenching dilemma repeatedly.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
However, a special teams disaster was also responsible for Denver’s most gut-wrenching loss of the season.
—Nick Kosmider, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
Both teams had another possession but had to punt before Penn State’s gut-wrenching mistake and interception with 30 seconds remaining set up Notre Dame at the Penn State 42-yard line.
—Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gut-wrenching
Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
In Squid Game, participants face this gut-wrenching dilemma repeatedly.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
However, a special teams disaster was also responsible for Denver’s most gut-wrenching loss of the season.
—Nick Kosmider, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
Both teams had another possession but had to punt before Penn State’s gut-wrenching mistake and interception with 30 seconds remaining set up Notre Dame at the Penn State 42-yard line.
—Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gut-wrenching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gut-wrenching
Adjective
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The gruesome murder occurred after an argument about fraudulent credit card charges, prosecutors said.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
20 Feb. 2025
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Over everything hovers the gruesome mystery of birth, that unnerving manifestation of female destiny by which a small person is formed within a larger one and bursts out like the alien in Alien.—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Once the fighting stops the horrific Russian losses of men and machines become daily additions to the armed forces.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
20 Feb. 2025
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On the left, contemporary progressives have denounced the original progressive for his horrific opinions of black Americans.—
Christian Schneider,
National Review,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Warren is the more physically dominant prospect, while Loveland is an elite route runner and terrific receiver at 240-plus pounds.—
Nick Baumgardner,
The Athletic,
18 Feb. 2025
-
Paz is terrific, a woman with everything thrown at her while trying to keep her family together.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This gripping series takes viewers into insidious modern-day cults through the unique lens of members who endured unspeakable trauma and the shocking investigations into these oppressive groups.—
Katcy Stephan,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2025
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The newest Trump administration and the shocking vote that happened this week at the UN, the U.S. siding with North Korea in that vote.—
ABC NEWS,
ABC News,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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His first book, Dark Days vividly and unflinchingly chronicled his terrifying experience being jailed on charges of manslaughter (he was acquitted on all counts).—
Bill Kopp,
SPIN,
20 Feb. 2025
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For those who have watched DOGE storm into their workplace, what is perhaps most terrifying is its attempts to scale.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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JPMorgan said the stock is at an attractive entry point with lower expectations and a formidable path for growth.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
26 Feb. 2025
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Helmed by Derrick Borte, Bear Country follows an ageing but formidable club owner, Manco Kapak (Crowe), who is robbed by a masked gunman, leaving his aspirations of selling his club and riding off into the sunset alongside his razor sharp girlfriend Sunny (Palmer) more distant than ever.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The key, psychologists say, is the emotional weight of those headlines’ content—especially for people who find what’s happening in the U.S. today to be genuinely frightening.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
21 Feb. 2025
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Bates is frightening in her stillness, which makes Annie’s sudden bursts of violence all the more horrifying.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This is, on paper, a terrible idea for all involved.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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State of play: Cleveland is terrible at planting trees.—
Sam Allard,
Axios,
26 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gut-wrenching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gut-wrenching. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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