as in gruesome
informal
causing great mental or emotional pain
gut-wrenching decisions the novel's gut-wrenching opening scene
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Recent Examples of gut-wrenching
The joy in the kids’ eyes will be a stark contrast to the gut-wrenching stares of less-privileged children on the nightly news.
—
Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2025
Victims endure gut-wrenching physical and mental abuse, leading to lasting trauma.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2025
After a gut-wrenching 19% drawdown in the S&P 500, the stock market staged a remarkable recovery to end the first half of the year in positive territory.
—Garth Friesen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Then, in the final few scenes, a gut-wrenching piece of news is delivered involving Jaja and ICE agents.
—Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for gut-wrenching
Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2025
Victims endure gut-wrenching physical and mental abuse, leading to lasting trauma.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2025
After a gut-wrenching 19% drawdown in the S&P 500, the stock market staged a remarkable recovery to end the first half of the year in positive territory.
—Garth Friesen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Then, in the final few scenes, a gut-wrenching piece of news is delivered involving Jaja and ICE agents.
—Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for gut-wrenching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gut-wrenching
Adjective
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But the gruesome truth remains — more than 120 are people are dead, including children.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
11 July 2025
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Other all-original haunted houses will include Jason Universe, which takes guests back to the summer camp where, one Friday the 13th, the gruesome legend was born.—
Tom Tapp,
Deadline,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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But the first lady and I are here in Texas to express the love and support and the anguish of our entire nation in the aftermath of this really horrific and deadly flood.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
11 July 2025
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Family recounts parents' efforts to save children The family of the two children who died in the flooding recounted in a GoFundMe page the horrific moment floodwaters swept the young siblings away and the desperate attempt by their parents to save their lives.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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Cody Bellinger, a terrific defender, couldn’t find an Ernie Clement flyball in the lights in the sixth inning, which officially resulted in a one-out triple.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
24 July 2025
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This generates terrific tidal forces within the star that simultaneously squash it horizontally while stretching it vertically.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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Bonnie came to her father's defense in May 2020 after Chapman shared the shocking news of his engagement to girlfriend Francie just 10 months after Beth’s death.—
Skyler Caruso,
People.com,
21 July 2025
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This shocking breach transformed a beloved feed into a source of confusion and pain.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
20 July 2025
Adjective
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But a week later, what had been named the Dragon Bravo Fire hit a patch of fuel and took on a terrifying character in new gusts of wind, surrounding overwhelmed firefighters on a helipad and heading with unstoppable force to the south.—
Tom Zoellner,
AZCentral.com,
25 July 2025
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As global anxiety builds, Luna must face not just the predator in the desert but the terrifying possibility that humanity’s end is hurtling toward them from the stars.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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The Cubs were always going to be a far more formidable opponent than the Nationals and Rockies, against whom the Red Sox collected the first six of their 10-game win streak before the All-Star break.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
20 July 2025
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Meanwhile, the men will be going up against the English juggernaut — a formidable opponent even if some of their star players are currently touring with the British and Irish Lions.—
Vitas Carosella,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
Adjective
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Through it all, the Jurassic Park franchise continued to break new ground, surprising and captivating audiences with fresh, new and unexpected developments in each installment, made all the more vivid, realistic and frightening with the latest in CGI and believable acting.—
Jan Wagner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 July 2025
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Perhaps most frightening of all is the fact that, in rural areas, such calamity occurs before any official help can arrive.—
Jessica Pishko,
New Yorker,
15 July 2025
Adjective
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If Trump takes Powell’s scalp, most observers warn, terrible things will unfold because of the ballooning national debt.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
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But when terrible news arrives about her ex, all eyes turn to Ana — whose reputation isn't exactly sterling.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
21 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gut-wrenching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gut-wrenching. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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