The Complete Vocabulary Builder Workbook by BETTER WORDS R. B. Skinner

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backbreaking

adjective

/ˈbækˌbreɪ kɪŋ/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of backbreaking

Requiring an immense amount of physical effort, stamina, and strength.
"The farmers endured backbreaking work in the scorching sun to harvest the crops."

Detailed meaning of backbreaking

When something is referred to as backbreaking, it implies that the work is extremely arduous, demanding, and physically taxing. It suggests that the task is so challenging and labor-intensive that it puts significant strain or pressure on the muscles and joints, particularly in the back area. The term "backbreaking" often conveys a sense of hardship, difficulty, or toil associated with the task at hand. It can be used to describe physically demanding occupations, such as agricultural work, construction, or heavy manual labor. Furthermore, it can be employed figuratively to describe any task or activity that requires great effort, persistence, and endurance, regardless of its physical nature. Overall, the adjective "backbreaking" underscores the intense physical exertion and difficulty associated with a task, emphasizing the strain it places on the body and the immense effort required to complete it.

Example sentences containing backbreaking

1. The construction workers faced backbreaking labor as they carried heavy bricks and materials all day.
2. She took on the backbreaking task of moving furniture up several flights of stairs.
3. The miners toiled underground, performing backbreaking work in dangerous conditions.
4. The athletes trained for months, enduring backbreaking workouts to prepare for the marathon.
5. The road crew faced backbreaking efforts to repair the damaged highway.
6. The porters hauled loads up the mountain, engaged in backbreaking work to support the climbers.

History and etymology of backbreaking

The adjective 'backbreaking' is a compound word, where 'back' and 'breaking' are combined to convey the idea of a task or activity that demands an immense amount of physical effort, stamina, and strength, to the point where it feels as though one's back might 'break' under the strain. While 'backbreaking' itself does not have a distinct etymology, it is a vivid example of how language uses imagery to create compound words that vividly describe the nature of certain tasks or activities. The term underscores the arduous and physically demanding nature of the work or effort it describes, painting a picture of the strain and exertion involved in such endeavors.

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Further usage examples of backbreaking

1. The factory workers endured long shifts of backbreaking labor in the assembly line.
2. The gardeners spent hours each day engaged in backbreaking tasks, tending to the expansive grounds.
3. The fishermen faced backbreaking work as they hauled in heavy nets full of catch.
4. The volunteers tirelessly performed backbreaking tasks during the disaster relief efforts.
5. The loggers engaged in backbreaking work, felling trees and carrying heavy logs out of the forest.
6. The construction workers endured backbreaking labor in the scorching sun.
7. Farming is a backbreaking occupation, especially during planting season.
8. Moving all those heavy boxes was a truly backbreaking task.
9. The miners faced backbreaking work deep underground.
10. The hikers found the steep, rocky trail to be backbreaking.
11. She had a backbreaking workload, juggling two jobs and school.
12. The marathon was a backbreaking race through challenging terrain.
13. The athletes' training regimen was grueling and backbreaking.
14. The soldiers endured a backbreaking march through rough terrain.
15. The gardening project turned out to be a backbreaking endeavor.
16. Cleaning the entire house in one day was a backbreaking chore.
17. The logging industry often involves backbreaking labor.
18. The construction of the skyscraper required backbreaking effort.
19. The farmers toiled day and night in their backbreaking work.
20. The porters carried backbreaking loads up the mountain.
21. The assembly line workers faced a monotonous and backbreaking job.
22. The fishermen's catch required backbreaking hauling.
23. The sanitation workers performed backbreaking tasks to keep the city clean.
24. The firefighters faced a backbreaking battle against the raging blaze.
25. The athletes' training program was designed to be backbreaking to build strength and endurance.