30
agonizing(adjective, severe, tender, pain, raw)
23
painful(adjective, severe, miserable, painful, wretched)
22
excruciating(adjective, severe, tender, pain, raw)
19
soul-crushing
18
appalling(adjective, pain, awful, terrible, horrible)
18
horrendous(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, painful)
17
torturous(adjective, severe, pain, shocking, disturbing)
16
distressing(adjective, tender, miserable, wretched, anguished)
15
frightful(adjective, pain, awful, terrible, horrible)
15
horrible(adjective, awful, terrible, afraid, endured)
15
terrible(adjective, bad, severe, tender, horrible)
15
terrifying(verb, adjective, awful, terrible, horrible)
14
awful(adjective, bad, terrible, horrible, afraid)
14
torturing(verb, adjective, severe, painful, shocking)
14
cruel(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, painful)
14
dreadful(adjective, pain, awful, terrible, horrible)
14
frightening(verb, adjective, awful, terrible, horrible)
14
horrifying(verb, adjective, endured, frightening)
14
tormenting(verb, adjective, severe, tender, pain)
13
dire(adjective, pain, awful, terrible, horrible)
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APASmart Define. (2015). harrowing thesaurus. Retrieved September 21, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/harrowing/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2015. "harrowing thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/harrowing/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 21, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2015, harrowing thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 21 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/harrowing/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "harrowing thesaurus" 10 April 2015. Web. 21 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/harrowing/thesaurus/synonyms>