Harrowing
Harrowing adjective - Hard to accept or bear especially emotionally.
Tragic is a synonym for harrowing in distressing topic. In some cases you can use "Tragic" instead an adjective "Harrowing".
Tragic
Tragic adjective - Of a kind to cause great distress.
Usage example: in a tragic turn of events the area's sole remaining steel mill suddenly closed
Harrowing is a synonym for tragic in catastrophic topic. Sometimes you can use "Harrowing" instead an adjective "Tragic".
Nearby Words: tragically, tragical
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
Both words in one sentence
- This is not always a comedy trope; the backstory behind the nickname can also apply to a harrowing event from the character's past like a tragic mistake they made - they simply need to be ashamed of the nickname they are now burdened with.
Source: Embarrassing Nickname
Cite this Source
Tragic and Harrowing. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/harrowing/tragic
Harrowing & Tragic. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/harrowing/tragic>.
Tragic or Harrowing. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/harrowing/tragic.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "harrowing" and "tragic" have occurred on timeline