harrowing
/ˈhæɹəʊiŋ/
Group 33Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Acutely distressing GRE
Example in Context
The survivors' harrowing accounts of the disaster moved the committee to approve emergency funding without the usual deliberative process.
Synonyms
terrifyingdistressingtraumatic
Etymology
From Old English for causing distress, suggesting something truly painful.
- harrow (Old English) — to cause distress
Memory Aid
💇♂️Sounds like “hair-wring”
Watching someone HAIR-WRING in agony during a horror movie is HARROWING!
Visual Association
😱A person yelling in terror while watching a terrifying scene unfold on screen.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “harrowing” mean on the GRE?
harrowing (adjective) means “Acutely distressing”. The survivors' harrowing accounts of the disaster moved the committee to approve emergency funding without the usual deliberative process.
How to remember “harrowing” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “harrowing” sounds like “hair-wring”. Watching someone HAIR-WRING in agony during a horror movie is HARROWING!
What are synonyms for “harrowing”?
Common synonyms: terrifying, distressing, traumatic.