13
disturbing(verb, adjective, severe, offensive, awful)
12
ghastly(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, afraid)
12
piercing(adjective, severe, tender, raw, painful)
12
shocking(adjective, pain, awful, terrible, horrible)
11
gruesome(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, afraid)
11
horrid(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, afraid)
11
odious(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, painful)
11
unbearable(adjective, severe, awful, terrible, painful)
11
wretched(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, afraid)
10
acute(adjective, painful, endured)
10
grievous(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, painful)
10
grisly(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, afraid)
10
hideous(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, afraid)
10
miserable(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, painful)
10
monstrous(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, afraid)
10
traumatic(adjective, nerve-racking)
9
abominable(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, afraid)
9
agonising
9
arduous(adjective, hard, severe, difficult, tender)
9
heinous(adjective, awful, terrible, horrible, afraid)
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APASmart Define. (2015). harrowing thesaurus. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/harrowing/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2015. "harrowing thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/harrowing/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 22, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2015, harrowing thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 22 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/harrowing/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "harrowing thesaurus" 10 April 2015. Web. 22 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/harrowing/thesaurus/synonyms>