harrowing event

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "harrowing event" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to refer to an event that was terrifying, shocking, sad, or difficult in some way. Example: The survivors of the crash recounted their harrowing experiences that day.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Alan, the seemingly open-minded academic, finds his liberalism challenged both by a harrowing event he keeps putting off describing and the exoticism of his most stimulating student, who is black or, as he quickly amends, African-American.

The New York Times

Haunted by the violent death of a black woman with Tourette's syndrome 20 years earlier, an English schoolteacher recreates the harrowing event with the help of newspaper clippings, police reports and personal letters, and forces her racist neighbors to confront their role in the murder.

The New York Times - Books

"Out there in the wild, we were the intruders," Templer explains in a YouTube video titled "A Bad Day at the Office," which recounts the harrowing event.

HuffPost

The silver lining was that this harrowing event sparked a life-long fascination with materials science and engineering.

The Guardian

"I was calm," Mr. Sidinta, a 38-year-old bricklayer, said the day after the harrowing event.

The New York Times

As the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attack approaches and the country remembers the harrowing event, she said the pain, flashbacks and nightmares she regularly experiences have intensified.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

He mixes harrowing events with peaceful protests and glimmers of hope.

The Economist

But amid the harrowing events taking place, the author inserts a ray of hope.

The Guardian

Instead, the climbers experienced what became a famous series of harrowing events.

The New York Times

Dramatizes the harrowing events of 1957, a key year in Algeria's struggle for independence from France.

Stanford University

Haunted by the harrowing events in Venice, the women go off separately to contemplate their flighty husbands and wonder: Is that all there is? Everything is transactional.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "harrowing event" when you want to convey the deeply distressing and often traumatic nature of an incident. It is particularly effective when highlighting the emotional impact on those involved.

Common error

Avoid using "harrowing event" to describe mildly unpleasant situations. Reserve it for truly severe and emotionally impactful occurrences to maintain its appropriate weight and significance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "harrowing event" functions as a noun phrase, where 'harrowing' modifies 'event'. It describes the kind of event being referred to, emphasizing its distressing and traumatic nature. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "harrowing event" is a grammatically sound and effective phrase used to describe profoundly distressing experiences. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. While not overly common, it finds frequent use in "News & Media", academic writing, and scientific reporting to convey the gravity and emotional impact of significant occurrences. When using this phrase, be sure to reserve it for events that truly warrant the intensity it conveys, and explore synonyms like "traumatic incident" or "ordeal" for related but nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

traumatic incident

Emphasizes the psychological impact, focusing on the trauma experienced.

distressing experience

Highlights the upsetting nature of the event, focusing on the emotional distress caused.

ordeal

Implies a severe and prolonged test of endurance, emphasizing the difficulty faced.

terrible episode

Focuses on the negative and unpleasant character of the event.

shocking occurrence

Highlights the surprising and disturbing nature of the event.

painful situation

Emphasizes the suffering and hurt caused by the event.

difficult time

Refers to a period marked by challenges and hardship.

tragic affair

Highlights the unfortunate and sorrowful aspects of the event.

calamitous episode

Implies a disastrous event with far-reaching consequences.

grievous happening

Stresses the severe and mournful nature of the event.

FAQs

How can I use "harrowing event" in a sentence?

You can use "harrowing event" to describe a deeply distressing experience, such as "The survivors recounted the "harrowing event" of the earthquake" or "The film depicted the "harrowing event" of the war".

What are some synonyms for "harrowing event"?

Alternatives to "harrowing event" include /s/traumatic+incident, /s/distressing+experience, or /s/ordeal, each conveying a slightly different nuance of distress and difficulty.

Is it appropriate to use "harrowing event" in formal writing?

Yes, "harrowing event" is suitable for formal writing when describing a significantly distressing or traumatic occurrence. Ensure the context warrants the intensity of the phrase.

What distinguishes "harrowing event" from a "bad experience"?

"Harrowing event" implies a much more severe and emotionally impactful experience than a "bad experience". The former suggests deep distress and potential trauma, while the latter is a more general term for any unpleasant situation.