Yes, they can be.
Harrowing, apart from its agricultural meaning, means extremely painful, excruciating or torturesome. It comes from the Old Engliah verb to harrow meaning to break or tear, as with a harrow; to wound; to lacerate; to torment or distress; to vex.
sadden, upset, distress, discourage, grieve, oppress, weigh down
Excruciating is correct.
It was a harrowing experience for the lost hare.
The Harrowing of Gwynedd was created in 1989.
Pathetic as in pitiful: Pitiable, distressing, upsetting, plaintive, poignant, heartbreaking, harrowing, wretched, or forlorn.Pathetic as in weak: Sorry, poor, lamentable, deplorable, woeful, inadequate, unsatisfactory, or feeble.
Excruciating is an adjective.
The Harrowing of Gwynedd has 384 pages.
The Harrow was created in 1998.
My toothache caused me excruciating pain.
That was an excruciating root canal.
The pain of digging out the bullet was excruciating.