Harrowing describes an experience so difficult, frightening, or painful that it shakes you deeply. A harrowing experience leaves you feeling exhausted and emotionally drained, like you've been through something that tested every bit of your courage and strength.

The word often describes truly scary or dangerous situations: a harrowing escape from a burning building, a harrowing journey through a blizzard, or a harrowing account of survival. When something is harrowing, it's intensely distressing, the kind of experience that stays with you and that you might have nightmares about or need time to recover from.

You might read a harrowing true story about people who survived a shipwreck, or watch a harrowing scene in a movie where characters face terrible danger. A rescue worker might describe a harrowing night saving people from a flood. Even emotional experiences can be harrowing: saying goodbye to a beloved pet can be a harrowing moment for a family.