through the wringer
idiom
informal
: through a series of very difficult or unpleasant experiences
Those poor people have really gone/been through the wringer lately.
They were put through the wringer by the adoption agency.
Examples of through the wringer in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jones and Thomas quickly put the rookie through the wringer, snagging offensive rebounds out of her hands and springing brutal double-team traps to force turnovers.
—
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2024
The company has been through the wringer over the past year with a slumping stock price, successive quarters of weak earnings pulled down by losses in its streaming division.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 27 Apr. 2024
Over the last few months, our diverse group of testers (including new parents tackling baby messes; New Yorkers cramped in tiny apartments; and pet owners managing smelly surprises from their furry friends) put 124 items through the wringer.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 17 Apr. 2024
Everyone knew that Stability AI was going through the wringer.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2024
Forterra has been through the wringer over the years in what may be one of the most stringent testing processes anywhere, submitting their systems to the Army Test and Evaluation Center, with most testing done at ATEC’s Aberdeen Test Center.
—Richard Bishop, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
From draft busts to the first ever team in league history to go winless through a 16-game season, their fans have been through the wringer.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 17 Feb. 2024
For starters, Hughes had to be going through the wringer.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 23 Jan. 2024
Celebrity couples have been through the wringer, from breakups to makeups and permanent separations resulting in divorce.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 15 Dec. 2023
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2024
The company has been through the wringer over the past year with a slumping stock price, successive quarters of weak earnings pulled down by losses in its streaming division.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 27 Apr. 2024
Over the last few months, our diverse group of testers (including new parents tackling baby messes; New Yorkers cramped in tiny apartments; and pet owners managing smelly surprises from their furry friends) put 124 items through the wringer.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 17 Apr. 2024
Everyone knew that Stability AI was going through the wringer.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2024
Forterra has been through the wringer over the years in what may be one of the most stringent testing processes anywhere, submitting their systems to the Army Test and Evaluation Center, with most testing done at ATEC’s Aberdeen Test Center.
—Richard Bishop, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
From draft busts to the first ever team in league history to go winless through a 16-game season, their fans have been through the wringer.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 17 Feb. 2024
For starters, Hughes had to be going through the wringer.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 23 Jan. 2024
Celebrity couples have been through the wringer, from breakups to makeups and permanent separations resulting in divorce.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 15 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'through the wringer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near through the wringer
Cite this Entry
“Through the wringer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/through%20the%20wringer. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share