wrenching

C2 Topic:Emotions & Feelings

US /ˈɹɛnt͡ʃɪŋ/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adjective
causing intense emotional pain or physical suffering

Leaving the home where she had raised her children was a wrenching experience.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adjective · causing intense emotional... agonizing harrowing painful

Opposites

comforting

Word family

Derived forms wrenchingly

Related forms wrenchgut-wrenchingheart-wrenching

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

wrenching pain
severe physical or emotional suffering

Adjective + noun

Etymology

Formed from wrench + -ing. The adjective extends the image of a painful physical twist to intense emotional suffering.

Topics

Emotions & Feelings

External links

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