Difficult
Difficult adjective - Requiring considerable physical or mental effort.
Usage example: difficult questions on the exam that required analytical thinking
Grueling is a synonym for difficult in exhausting topic. In some cases you can use "Grueling" instead the word "Difficult" as an adjective or a noun.
Nearby Word: difficulty
Grueling
Grueling adjective - Requiring considerable physical or mental effort.
Usage example: running a marathon is grueling
Difficult is a synonym for grueling in exhausting topic. You can use "Difficult" instead an adjective "Grueling".
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
Both words in one sentence
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Anything that's really difficult or grueling has a tendency to be a "copperplated bitch".
Source: Creator / David Weber -
So Proud of You: Parker says to his team in "Acceptable Targets", after a particularly grueling and difficult mission.
Source: Series / Flashpoint -
This led to what may have been the most grueling and difficult situation in her career.
Source: Pregnant Badass
Cite this Source
Grueling and Difficult. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/difficult/grueling
Difficult & Grueling. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/difficult/grueling>.
Grueling or Difficult. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/difficult/grueling.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "difficult" and "grueling" have occurred on timeline