Strong, harsh, or acrid in taste or sensation; used for something with a strong, astringent or biting flavor/feeling (usually written in kana).
このコーヒーは焙煎が強くてえぐい苦さがある。
This coffee is heavily roasted and has a harsh bitterness.
フレッシュな山菜はえぐい味がすることがある。
Fresh wild plants sometimes have an astringent, strong taste.
魚の内臓を生で食べるとえぐい風味を感じる人もいる。
Some people find the raw innards of fish have a sharp, unpleasant flavor.
Sharp or biting (language, questions); cutting or harsh in tone (colloquial).
インタビューの質問がえぐくて、彼は答えに詰まった。
The interviewer's questions were cutting, and he was at a loss for words.
彼女の指摘はえぐくて、場の空気が重くなった。
Her criticism was harsh, and it made the atmosphere heavy.
Nasty, brutal, or disgusting — used for vivid, unpleasant, or gruesome things (colloquial).
あの映画は描写がえぐくて途中で帰った。
That movie was so graphic and gruesome that I left halfway through.
事故の現場は想像以上にえぐい状況だった。
The accident scene was nastier than I had imagined.
Slang meaning awesome, incredible, or intense (positive); used colloquially to express that something is extreme or impressive. Context determines whether it is positive or negative.
彼のピアノ演奏はエグいほど上手だった。
His piano playing was unbelievably good.
あのゴールはマジでエグかったよ！
That goal was seriously amazing!