grueling week

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grueling week" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a week that is extremely tiring or demanding, often due to work or other obligations. Example: "After a grueling week of meetings and deadlines, I finally have some time to relax."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Rice, who was the United Nations ambassador at that time, has said that Clinton was too exhausted from the "grueling" week to go on the shows.

Huffington Post

Perhaps, in this case, the players were tired after a grueling week.

The New York Times - Arts

It was a grueling week for Woods, but he departed La Costa Resort and Spa richer ($1.08 million), confident and healthy.

The New York Times - Sports

One recent Friday, Alicia, the waitress, a senior at Governor Livingston Regional High School in Berkeley Heights, N.J., acknowledged that she had put in a grueling week.

The New York Times

Hall's specialty, short races, could not have formed a greater contrast with the grueling week of racing spent by Michael Phelps, who swam the last of his six individual events on Tuesday night, the 100-meter butterfly.

The New York Times - Sports

At an appearance near the end of a grueling week, Mr. Lieberman told his audience that he was the first in his generation, not his family, to go to college.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Easter Mass was the culmination of a grueling Holy Week schedule, with the pope carrying a cross for two stations at a reenactment of Christ's passion Friday night and staying up late Saturday for a candlelight vigil in St. Peter's.

The New York Times

For Torre, there was a connoisseur's appreciation of a six-month grind and a grueling final week in which the Dodgers, who were assured of a playoff berth, needed seven days to win the game that clinched the division title.

The New York Times - Sports

He not only survived the disease but also went on to win the Tour, a grueling three-week race.

The New York Times - Sports

Because her blood counts did not rebound after the treatment, her stay lasted a grueling seven weeks.

The New York Times

For much of the past decade, Alberto Contador has been the stage-race cyclist to beat, winning five grand tours, the grueling three-week races, including two in Paris.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a particularly challenging period, specify the source of the difficulty. For example, instead of just saying "it was a "grueling week"", explain what made it so, such as "a "grueling week" of back-to-back meetings".

Common error

Avoid using "grueling week" merely as a stronger version of "busy week". Reserve it for situations that genuinely involve extreme effort, stress, or exhaustion to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grueling week" functions as a noun phrase, with "grueling" acting as a modifier describing the type of week. Ludwig AI indicates its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "grueling week" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a particularly difficult or exhausting seven-day period. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While it can be tempting to use this phrase as a generic intensifier, reserving it for truly demanding situations ensures its impact. Consider alternative phrases like "tough week" or "demanding week" for situations where the difficulty isn't extreme. The phrase sees frequent use in news and media, but is also common in more informal communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tough week

Replaces "grueling" with a less intense synonym.

difficult week

Substitutes "grueling" with a more general term for challenging.

demanding week

Focuses on the high level of requirements and effort involved.

arduous week

Replaces "grueling" with a synonym that emphasizes the effort required.

taxing week

Highlights the draining effect of the week's activities.

strenuous week

Emphasizes the physical or mental exertion involved.

challenging week

Focuses on the difficulties and obstacles faced during the week.

hectic week

Emphasizes the busyness and lack of rest during the week.

tiring week

Highlights the exhaustion resulting from the week's activities.

exhausting week

Replaces "grueling" with a strong synonym for being extremely tiring.

FAQs

What does "grueling week" mean?

A "grueling week" refers to a period of seven days that is extremely tiring, demanding, and often involves a great deal of effort, stress, or hardship.

What can I say instead of "grueling week"?

You can use alternatives like "tough week", "difficult week", or "demanding week" to describe a challenging period.

How do you use "grueling week" in a sentence?

You can use "grueling week" in a sentence like, "After a "grueling week" of exams, I needed a long vacation" or "The team faced a "grueling week" of training before the championship game".

What's the difference between "grueling week" and "busy week"?

"Grueling week" implies a more intense level of difficulty, exhaustion, and stress than a "busy week". A "busy week" simply means a lot of activities, while a "grueling week" suggests those activities are also particularly demanding and draining.