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
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His most gut-wrenching setback, however, came when he was not selected to be a part of the men’s 4x100 lineup in 2008. Cory Mull, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025 The gut-wrenching performance brought newfound success to the track, which earned a Grammy nomination at the time. Jordana Comiter, People.com, 19 July 2025 The two experience a gut-wrenching tragedy and Sam’s friend, Fragile, offers him a job to expand the Chiral Network across borders as a way to help the porter recover. Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 15 July 2025 More Getty Images Horschel edged McIlroy in a playoff at the 2024 BMW PGA Championship, just three months after Rory's gut-wrenching U.S. Open loss to Bryson DeChambeau. Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Gut-wrenching.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gut-wrenching. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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