24
evil(adjective, characteristic, mean, nasty, harsh)
24
hard-hearted(adjective, characteristic, person, mean, hard)
24
spiteful(adjective, characteristic, person, mean, nasty)
23
grim(adjective, person, appearance, mean, strong)
22
hellish(adjective, characteristic, evil, nasty, harsh)
22
sad(adjective, hard, difficult, awful, terrible)
22
sore(adjective, hard, difficult, pain, complex)
21
bestial(adjective, adverb, characteristic, kind, severe)
21
hateful(adjective, characteristic, person, mean, evil)
21
unmerciful(adjective, characteristic, mean, severe, harsh)
21
wicked(adjective, characteristic, mean, severe, evil)
20
beastly(adjective, adverb, mean, nasty, low)
20
grave(adjective, hard, difficult, pain, complex)
20
grinding(adjective, hard, difficult, pain, complex)
20
heartrending(adjective, hard, difficult, complex)
20
inexorable(adjective, characteristic, appearance, mean, strong)
20
rugged(adjective, strong, hard, tough, severe)
20
stubborn(adjective, appearance, strong, hard, tough)
20
trying(adjective, hard, difficult, complex, painful)
20
violent(adjective, strong, hard, tough, severe)
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APASmart Define. (2016). cruel thesaurus. Retrieved September 26, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/cruel/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2016. "cruel thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/cruel/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 26, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2016, cruel thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 26 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/cruel/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "cruel thesaurus" 24 March 2016. Web. 26 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/cruel/thesaurus/synonyms>