64 entries under cruel topic. ×

24
upsetting(adjective, hard, moving, severe, happy)
22
severe(adjective, tough, difficult, harsh, tender)
13
hurtful(adjective, severe, tender, unpleasant, awful)
11
bitter(adjective, hard, moving, tough, rough)
11
difficult(adjective, severe, rough, harsh, tender)
10
bad(adjective, severe, poor, sad, offensive)
10
hard(adjective, rough, difficult, harsh, tender)
8
afflictive(adjective, rough, tender, pain, unpleasant)
8
heavy(adjective, tough, severe, rough, difficult)
8
unpleasant(adjective, tough, severe, harsh, tender)
6
arduous(adjective, difficult, harsh, tender)
6
damaging(adjective, awful, terrible, unkind)
6
harmful(adjective, awful, terrible, unkind)
6
harsh(adjective, hard, tough, severe, rough)
5
bleak(adjective, tough, severe, obscure, harsh)
5
serious(adjective, tough, severe, rough, difficult)
4
injurious(adjective, awful, terrible, unkind)
4
tough(adjective, severe, rough, nasty, harsh)
4
wounding(verb, adjective, awful, terrible)
3
mischievous(adjective, wicked, unkind, upsetting)
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APASmart Define. (2015). distressing thesaurus. Retrieved September 28, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/distressing/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2015. "distressing thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/distressing/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 28, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2015, distressing thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 28 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/distressing/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "distressing thesaurus" 3 August 2015. Web. 28 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/distressing/thesaurus/synonyms>