| acrimonious(adjective, tough, severe, harsh, awkward) |
| allay(verb, calm, dull, check, ease) |
| bad-tempered(adjective, irritable, grumpy, tetchy, peevish) |
| barefaced(adjective, open, shameless) |
| barren |
| basic(adjective, hard, severe, cold, austere) |
| bold |
| categorical(adjective, open, direct, flat, honest) |
| caustic(adjective, severe) |
| chill(freeze, desensitize, deaden, dissuasion) |
| chloroform(verb, dull, quiet, diminish, abate) |
| clumsy(adjective, thoughtless, crass, tactless) |
| compact(adjective, brief, concise, pithy) |
| crass(adjective, hard, tough, harsh, rude) |
| crisp(adjective, severe, short, brief, brusque) |
| cross(adjective, irritable, grumpy, bad-tempered, tetchy) |
| decrease(verb, calm, reduce, damage, harm) |
| dense(adjective, dull, heavy, stupid, impassive) |
| desensitise |
| deter |