brain-racking

Cox and Forshaw encourage the reader to imagine how a succession of bullet-like particles could build up an interference pattern—a worthwhile exercise "because it's futile, and a few hours of brain-racking should convince you that a stripy pattern is inconceivable."

Making Sense of It All Richard Lea 2011

In this connection may I venture to call your attention to what a brain-racking job the office of Governor is.

The Inspector-General 2003

No matter what the subject might be, a brain-racking effort was made to squirm it into some aspect or other that the moral and religious mind could contemplate with edification.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer 2003

Before his friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet, for a few moments, gives up his brain-racking thoughts of penitence; he even endeavours to philosophise, as he may have done at the University of Wittenberg before he allowed himself to be lured into dreamland.

Shakspere and Montaigne Jacob Feis

Midnight: I had sent out the night-firing orders to our four batteries, checked watches over the telephone, and put in a twenty minutes 'wrestle with the brain-racking Army Form B. 213.

Pushed and the Return Push George Herbert Fosdike Nichols

Via Hammersmith, Kew Bridge, Brentford, and Hounslow was our way out of town, and a more awful, brain-racking, and discouraging start it would have been impossible to make.

The Automobilist Abroad

So, after deliberate brain-racking, he went one better with the information:

Tell England A Study in a Generation Ernest Raymond 1931

A silence, significant of much brain-racking, followed.

The Primrose Ring Ruth Sawyer 1925

Was not this the way to obtain release from that hard labour, to get out of that brain-racking circle?

The Path of Life Stijn [pseud.] Streuvels 1920

For the next day or two Paul lived in a whirl of telephones, telegrams, letters, scurryings across London, interviews, brain-racking questionings and reiterated declarations of political creed.

The Fortunate Youth 1914