Arduous vs. Grueling — What's the Difference?

Involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring

Physically or mentally demanding to the point of exhaustion

Demanding great effort or labor; difficult

Alternative spelling of gruelling.

Testing severely the powers of endurance; strenuous

Alternative spelling of gruelling.

Hard to traverse, climb, or surmount.

Present participle of gruel

Needing or using up much energy; testing powers of endurance.

Characterized by toilsome effort; requiring extreme physical or mental effort; as, a grueling campaign.

(obsolete) burning; ardent

Characterized by toilsome effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort;

Difficult or exhausting to traverse.

Steep and lofty, in a literal sense; hard to climb.

Attended with great labor, like the ascending of acclivities; difficult; laborious; as, an arduous employment, task, or enterprise.

Characterized by toilsome effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort;

Taxing to the utmost; testing powers of endurance;

Difficult to accomplish; demanding considerable mental effort and skill;