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

The hardships the New Basin laborers faced — aside from backbreaking work, there was a deadly cholera outbreak — are points of pride among the city’s Irish.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 15, 2024

"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

It involves about a week of backbreaking work.

From New York Times • Apr. 11, 2023

But after three days of backbreaking work, she was finally adjusting to life at sea, and today she was going to see the book again.

From "The Reader" by Traci Chee