1. extremely difficult, demanding, or exhausting

Examples

• The construction workers faced backbreaking labor in the summer heat.
• Moving all the furniture upstairs was backbreaking work.
• She spent years doing backbreaking farm work to support her family.
• The backbreaking schedule left him with no time for rest.
• Digging the foundation by hand was backbreaking but necessary.
• The backbreaking pace of the factory job wore down many employees.