gruelling competition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gruelling competition" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a competition that is extremely challenging and exhausting, often requiring significant effort and endurance. Example: "The athletes faced a gruelling competition that tested their physical and mental limits."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

On today's deal from the final, the Netherlands gained a large swing partly through vagaries of system, but also by paying close attention to detail in the defence – something that is not easy to do after a fortnight of gruelling competition.

The Guardian - Sport

"Joining London Irish is a chance to test myself in a gruelling competition week in, week out," said the 28-year-old England-qualified player.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

If one event is considered too much for Ennis-Hill's body at this stage, then the prospect of her being able to produce her very best over seven events of gruelling heptathlon competition in Moscow must be called into question.

The Guardian - Sport

Sawyers's first attempt at international competition level was in a gruelling heptathlon contest at the World Youth Championships in 2011.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Photograph: Startraks Photo/REX 2.16pm GMT Dakar rally 2014: The competition is gruelling event covering thousands of kilometres through some epic locations Chile, Argentina and Bolivia.

The Guardian

The main bout proved an even less gruelling contest.

The New Yorker

Chelsea's Champions League knockout stage adventures have rarely been anything less than gruelling, a team whose lust for glory in this competition has seemed to hang heavy over each occasion.

The Guardian - Sport

Sutton, who together with Australian sports scientist Tim Kerrison revolutionised Wiggins' pre-Tour training and competition programme to ensure he peaked for the gruelling three-week race, is now playing a more old-school role - that of cajoler and motivator.

BBC

Perhaps the pressure of global competition, mixed with the responsibility of representing four years of athletes' gruelling training schedules, is the reason why so many Olympic songs are totally bereft of fun.

The Guardian - Music

Interviewing Campbell is gruelling.

The Guardian - Sport

The training was gruelling.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gruelling competition" when you want to emphasize not only the difficulty of a competition, but also its physically or mentally exhausting nature. This phrase is particularly effective when describing events that test endurance and resilience.

Common error

Avoid using "gruelling competition" to describe everyday or mildly challenging situations. Reserve it for scenarios where the level of difficulty and exhaustion is genuinely high, such as describing an Ironman triathlon or a multi-stage cycling race.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gruelling competition" functions as a noun phrase, where "gruelling" modifies the noun "competition". Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. It describes a specific type of competition characterized by its demanding and exhausting nature, as shown in the examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "gruelling competition" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe highly demanding and exhausting contests. According to Ludwig AI, it is considered correct and usable in written English. While not frequently encountered, it effectively conveys the intensity and difficulty of an event, often in news and media or formal business contexts. Alternatives like "tough competition" or "arduous competition" can be used to express similar meanings with slight variations in emphasis. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the extreme challenge involved to avoid diluting its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tough competition

Replaces "gruelling" with "tough", focusing on the difficulty rather than the exhausting nature.

arduous competition

Substitutes "gruelling" with "arduous", emphasizing the laboriousness and difficulty involved.

strenuous competition

Replaces "gruelling" with "strenuous", highlighting the effort and energy required.

demanding competition

Substitutes "gruelling" with "demanding", emphasizing the high requirements and challenges.

intense competition

Replaces "gruelling" with "intense", focusing on the high level of activity and focus required.

challenging contest

Uses "challenging" and "contest", focusing on the difficulty and competitive nature.

taxing competition

Replaces "gruelling" with "taxing", highlighting the depleting nature of the competition.

rigorous competition

Substitutes "gruelling" with "rigorous", emphasizing the strict and demanding nature.

brutal competition

Replaces "gruelling" with "brutal", highlighting the harsh and unforgiving nature of the competition.

severe competition

Substitutes "gruelling" with "severe", emphasizing the seriousness and intensity of the competition.

FAQs

How can I use "gruelling competition" in a sentence?

You can use "gruelling competition" to describe a contest that is extremely demanding and exhausting, for example: "The athletes endured a "gruelling competition" testing their limits."

What are some alternatives to saying "gruelling competition"?

Alternatives include "tough competition", "arduous competition", or "demanding competition", depending on which aspect you want to emphasize.

Is "grueling competition" also correct?

While "grueling" is a valid alternative spelling of "gruelling", the spelling "gruelling" is more commonly used in British English, and both are acceptable. The better choice depends on your target audience and preferred style.

What makes a competition "gruelling"?

A "gruelling competition" involves a high degree of difficulty, prolonged effort, and often causes significant physical or mental exhaustion. It goes beyond being merely challenging and pushes participants to their absolute limits.