backbreaking work

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But the backbreaking work left behind—often in agriculture or coal mines—was worse.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

"Those who cheated me must get the maximum punishment. I do backbreaking work the whole day for 500 rupees. I know I made a huge mistake. But what they did with me is so wrong."

From BBC • Jan. 9, 2024

The program was created to give them a shot at a secure retirement after a lifetime of what may have been backbreaking work.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 2, 2023

Either way, it can be backbreaking work at times.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 16, 2022

I can get maybe one- tenth of a cubic meter in through the airlock at a time, and it'll be backbreaking work to collect it.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir