A harrowing experience is extremely upsetting or disturbing. You've had a harrowing time this past month.

Definition of harrowing adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Dec 20, 2025 · Adjective harrowing (comparative more harrowing, superlative most harrowing) (formal) Causing pain or distress; harrying.

Recommended for you

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025 har•row•ing (har′ ō ing), adj. extremely disturbing or distressing; grievous: a harrowing experience.

The adjective harrowing is often used to describe a firsthand experience that is terrifying, such as a harrowing drive home in icy weather, but it can also refer to a secondhand experience, such as …

Define harrowing. harrowing synonyms, harrowing pronunciation, harrowing translation, English dictionary definition of harrowing. adj. Extremely distressing; agonizing: a harrowing experience.

The meaning of HARROWING is acutely distressing or painful. How to use harrowing in a sentence.

/ ˈher.oʊ.ɪŋ / Add to word list extremely upsetting because connected with suffering: a harrowing story

HARROWING definition: extremely disturbing or distressing; grievous. See examples of harrowing used in a sentence.

/ ˈher.oʊ.ɪŋ / Add to word list extremely upsetting because connected with suffering: a harrowing story

HARROWING definition: extremely disturbing or distressing; grievous. See examples of harrowing used in a sentence.

You may also like