BACKBREAKING Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

backbreaking

adjective

ˈbak-ˌbrā-kiŋ

Definition of backbreaking

as in difficult

requiring considerable physical or mental effort modern machinery has significantly eased the backbreaking work of farming

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of backbreaking The trials pay better than dishwashing, require no skills and are far less backbreaking than loading and unloading boxes. — Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2021 The Kings were leading 80-60 at the time and led by as many as 26 in the game, dealing the Blazers’ playoff chase a backbreaking blow. — oregonlive, 8 Mar. 2020 Drawing on unprecedented research, Chang shows how these men performed some of the most dangerous, most backbreaking work to build out the railroad from California, yet received virtually no credit for their contributions. — Chris Fuchs, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2019 Spraying fields with pesticides and fertilizers, the drones -- which can cover up to 60 acres a day -- could boost crop yields, save time and make backbreaking field work much easier, according to Bug Away. — Sarah Lazarus and Dan Tham, CNN, 3 July 2019 See All Example Sentences for backbreaking

Recent Examples of Synonyms for backbreaking

Adjective

Finding people at high risk of incubating the Bundibugyo virus, also known as contact tracing, has proved difficult in Congo.

— CONSTANT SAME BAGALWA, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
McKinsey’s data says some of those moves can be difficult for certain workers.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of difficult

Adjective

Until now, scientists could measure the total phosphorus preserved in ancient rocks, but determining the share that was actually available to marine life remained challenging.

— Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 3 Oct. 2026
Alas, its path appears quite challenging, given that Digger earned a C+ CinemaScore from audiences and holds a 51 percent approval from reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

— Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of challenging

Adjective

Now, Germino says her social media presence is all about giving other patients going through the same tough decision an example of someone who’s thriving after the procedure.

— Kara McGrath, Allure, 6 Oct. 2026
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's administration is about to start tough budget negotiations against a backdrop of division and economic turmoil.

— Chloe Taylor,Jenni Reid, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

The list takes months to compile, with multiple steps and checks designed to ensure the ranking is rigorous and consistent.

— Kelli Grant, CFP®,Riley de León, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
With rigorous reporting and more than 150 interviews with those working for the US’ most influential AI companies, technology journalist Roose covers Silicon Valley’s breakneck race to build artificial general intelligence.

— Mary Lawrence Ware, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of rigorous

Adjective

The conductors who oversee the recording of the movie scores are portrayed as hyper-demanding corporate perfectionists.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
Quantum computers could eventually solve very demanding computational problems much faster than regular computers.

— Sophya Garashchuk, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of demanding

Adjective

Guests lingered over cocktails, lauding Ghesquière’s formidable creative prowess, personal warmth and loyalty.

— Miles Socha, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2026
Let a Hundred Websites Bloom The Internet and the smartphone have become formidable tools for the Chinese government to maintain tight control over society.

— Conor Heffernan, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of formidable

Adjective

Researchers have developed a paper-thin foot membrane that lets crawling microrobots harvest electricity directly from the ground beneath them, ditching heavy onboard batteries by turning metal and silicon surfaces into an active power source.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Oct. 2026
That means its worst wind, heavy rain, storm surge and tornado threats will be along and to the east of where its center tracks.

— Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of heavy

Browse Nearby Words

backbones

backbreaking

back-channel

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“Backbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backbreaking. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of backbreaking

adjective

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