as in gruesome
informal
causing great mental or emotional pain
gut-wrenching decisions the novel's gut-wrenching opening scene
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gut-wrenching
The multi-tiered approach makes what happens all that more gut-wrenching, poignant and powerful.
—
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
The Alaska State Troopers Active Missing Persons Bulletins webpage shows the faces of more than 150 missing people, each with a gut-wrenching, heartbreaking story.
—Bjorn Dihle, Outdoor Life, 4 Sep. 2025
This novel, set in Australia at the outset of World War II, is gut-wrenching.
—The Know, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
Charlotte Lawrence loves a good, gut-wrenching, sad song.
—Leah Lu, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gut-wrenching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gut-wrenching
Adjective
-
Peter offers her not only logic — a picture in which all the parts, however gruesome, fit together — but salvation.—
-
The prosecution argued that being on drugs didn't excuse the gruesome attack.—
Adjective
-
Wednesday afternoon, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the shooting horrific.—
-
From a horrific account of an asteroid hitting Earth to an evil AI computer capable of designing deadly activities, readers will face the dark and mysterious corners of the human experience.—
Adjective
-
Special mention must be made of the in-room minibars, which are terrific, and so extensive that they are contained not within a single small fridge but an entire chest of drawers.—
-
Lenert made a terrific save on a solid strike by JSerra midfielder Carter Biondolillo, with Lenert diving to his left to make the crucial stop in the second half.—
Adjective
-
The shocking decision sends ripples through the Washington program and the college football transfer portal.—
-
There are some great twists and turns leading to a shocking but very satisfying ending.—
Adjective
-
Humans could suddenly step into a box, perhaps hear gears grind, and then exit the box on a different floor—and even as safety features were innovated, that was terrifying.—
-
Madigan's character, the elderly aunt of several of the students, became a cult favorite, both terrifying and delighting audiences.—
Adjective
-
Over the weekend, we were reminded of an even more horrifying football ritual following the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.—
-
But this super drug has horrifying consequences.—
Adjective
-
The service Aside from a formidable restaurant and spa, the service sets this hotel apart from other country boutiques in Sicily.—
-
The hardy parasite is also highly attuned to threats and responds with formidable defense mechanisms — prolonging a treatment process that’s already months to years long and often fraught with other hurdles and pain.—
Adjective
-
Experts immediately pointed out that Hassett had used a misleading method known as a cubic fit to make the mortality data appear less frightening.—
-
When the sun went down, the Santa Anas began to blow, and the fire shifted into the familiar, frightening rhythm of inevitability.—
Cite this Entry
“Gut-wrenching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gut-wrenching. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share