harrowing
adjective uk/ˈhær.əʊ.ɪŋ/ us/ˈher.oʊ.ɪŋ/
折磨人的，令人痛苦的
extremely upsetting because connected with suffering
a harrowing story 令人悲伤的故事
For many women, the harrowing prospect of giving evidence in a rape case can be too much to bear. 对很多女性来说，一想到要提供遭强奸的证据就让人难以忍受。
Synonyms: agonizingexcruciatingtorturous