6
joyless(adjective, sad, pain, sorrow, depression)
5
agonizing(adjective, hard, rough, tender, raw)
5
distasteful(adjective, hard, severe, tender, offensive)
5
excruciating(adjective, tender, raw, painful, burning)
5
miserable(adjective, bad, sad, sorrow, depression)
5
pathetic(adjective, sad, pain, sorrow, depression)
5
tragic(adjective, bad, sad, sorrow, depression)
5
unfortunate(adjective, sad, sorrow, depression, woe)
5
unpleasant(adjective, sad, tender, offensive, sorrow)
5
woeful(adjective, sad, pain, unpleasant, sorrow)
4
abominable(adjective, offensive, unpleasant, disgusting, painful)
4
acute(adjective, severe, heavy, important, serious)
4
affecting
4
calamitous(adjective, unpleasant, awful, terrible, miserable)
4
dark(adjective, bad, sad, sorrow, depression)
4
depressing(dull, pain, awful, terrible, gloomy)
4
dire(adjective, hard, severe, tender, unpleasant)
4
gloomy(adjective, bad, sad, sorrow, depression)
4
heartbreaking(adjective, unpleasant, awful, terrible, miserable)
4
heavy(adjective, bad, sad, sorrow, depression)
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APASmart Define. (2015). afflictive thesaurus. Retrieved September 23, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/afflictive/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2015. "afflictive thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/afflictive/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 23, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2015, afflictive thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 23 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/afflictive/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "afflictive thesaurus" 10 April 2015. Web. 23 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/afflictive/thesaurus/synonyms>