CEFR C1

backbreaking

adjective

Meaning

Requiring extreme physical effort or endurance that is likely to cause exhaustion or injury.

Examples

Building the stone wall by hand was backbreaking work that took all summer.
She spent years doing backbreaking chores on the family farm.

Synonyms: hard, tough, demanding, grueling

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backbreaking (C1)

adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈbækˌbreɪkɪŋ/

Definition

Requiring extreme physical effort or endurance that is likely to cause exhaustion or injury.

Examples

Building the stone wall by hand was backbreaking work that took all summer.
She spent years doing backbreaking chores on the family farm.
The miners endured backbreaking conditions deep underground for very little pay.

How to Use backbreaking

backbreaking work (collocation): Physical tasks that are extremely difficult. — "Clearing the forest was backbreaking work."
backbreaking task (collocation): A specific duty that causes great strain. — "Digging the trench proved to be a backbreaking task."

Synonyms of backbreaking

Words with a similar meaning to backbreaking:

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