Harrowing

/ˈhær.əʊ.ɪŋ/

Meaning & Definition

verb
To torment or disturb greatly (rare usage).
The memories of the accident still harrow him to this day.
adjective
Extremely distressing or disturbing.
The harrowing documentary chronicled the survivors' experiences during the war.
Causing feelings of intense anxiety or sadness.
His harrowing tale of loss left the audience in tears.
Invoking a sense of deep emotional pain.
She described the harrowing moment when she found out about the accident.

Etymology

From the Old English 'hergian', which means 'to harrow' or 'to vex'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

harrowing experience:
A situation that causes extreme distress or emotional pain.
harrowing tale:
A story that describes a deeply upsetting or troubling event.
harrowing journey:
A trip that is filled with difficulties and emotional challenges.

Related Words

Slang Meanings

Heavy stuff
That movie was some heavy stuff; really harrowing.
Real talk
The documentary was real talk, so harrowing to watch.