| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | abrasive | rubbing people the wrong way |
| 2. | accusatory | suggesting blame |
| 3. | acerbic | sharp and forthright in speech |
| 4. | acidic | sharply critical in tone |
| 5. | antagonistic | actively opposed or hostile |
| 6. | arduous | requiring great effort |
| 7. | austere | plain and strict |
| 8. | backbreaking | extremely hard physical work |
| 9. | barbed | intended to hurt or criticize |
| 10. | biting | stinging and critical |
| 11. | bitter | resentful and sharp |
| 12. | bleak | cold, bare, and depressing |
| 13. | blunt | direct to the point of rudeness |
| 14. | brusque | abrupt and curt |
| 15. | brutal | savagely violent or severe |
| 16. | callous | showing little feeling |
| 17. | caustic | sarcastic in a hurtful way |
| 18. | churlish | rude and ill-mannered |
| 19. | cold | lacking warmth or sympathy |
| 20. | crabby | irritable and unpleasant |
| 21. | cruel | causing pain or suffering |
| 22. | curt | rudely brief |
| 23. | cutting | hurtfully sarcastic or critical |
| 24. | demanding | needing much effort or attention |
| 25. | derogatory | showing a critical attitude |
| 26. | dire | extremely serious or urgent |
| 27. | disparaging | speaking of as unimportant |
| 28. | draconian | extremely severe or harsh |
| 29. | exacting | requiring great care and effort |
| 30. | ferocious | savagely fierce |
| 31. | fierce | intensely aggressive or strong |
| 32. | forbidding | unfriendly and stern |
| 33. | freezing | extremely cold |
| 34. | frigid | very cold |
| 35. | grievous | very serious and painful |
| 36. | grim | gloomy and severe |
| 37. | grueling | extremely tiring and demanding |
| 38. | gruff | rough and abrupt |
| 39. | grumpy | irritable and sullen |
| 40. | hard | difficult or unpleasant |
| 41. | hardhearted | not easily moved by pity |
| 42. | hardline | firm and uncompromising |
| 43. | harrowing | deeply distressing |
| 44. | heartless | without compassion |
| 45. | heavy-handed | clumsy and overly forceful |
| 46. | hostile | unfriendly and aggressive |
| 47. | hurtful | causing emotional pain |
| 48. | icy | very cold or unfriendly |
| 49. | inclement | unpleasantly cold or stormy |
| 50. | inhospitable | unfriendly or hard to live in |
| 51. | insensitive | not considerate of others’ feelings |
| 52. | insulting | disrespectful and hurtful |
| 53. | iron-fisted | very strict and controlling |
| 54. | judgmental | too quick to criticize |
| 55. | mean | unkind and spiteful |
| 56. | menacing | suggesting danger |
| 57. | merciless | showing no mercy |
| 58. | nasty | unpleasant or spiteful |
| 59. | offensive | causing anger or resentment |
| 60. | ominous | threatening or foreboding |
| 61. | oppressive | unjustly harsh or burdensome |
| 62. | overbearing | domineering and forceful |
| 63. | painful | causing physical or emotional pain |
| 64. | pitiless | without compassion or mercy |
| 65. | prickly | easily irritated or offended |
| 66. | punishing | very difficult to endure |
| 67. | punitive | intended to punish |
| 68. | raw | cold and damp |
| 69. | relentless | unyielding and persistent |
| 70. | reproachful | expressing disapproval or disappointment |
| 71. | rigorous | very thorough and strict |
| 72. | rough | unpleasantly difficult or uneven |
| 73. | rude | impolite and offensive |
| 74. | rugged | rough and hard to endure |
| 75. | ruthless | showing no mercy |
| 76. | scathing | severely critical |
| 77. | severe | very strict or intense |
| 78. | sharp | cutting or biting in tone |
| 79. | snappish | irritably short-tempered |
| 80. | spiky | prickly in manner or tone |
| 81. | stern | serious and strict |
| 82. | strict | demanding exact obedience |
| 83. | surly | bad-tempered and unfriendly |
| 84. | tactless | not careful about others’ feelings |
| 85. | tart | sharply critical or sarcastic |
| 86. | taxing | draining to handle |
| 87. | testy | easily annoyed and sharp |
| 88. | tough | hard to endure or deal with |
| 89. | trenchant | keenly incisive and critical |
| 90. | trying | difficult and stressful |
| 91. | tyrannical | cruelly oppressive |
| 92. | uncomfortable | causing unease or distress |
| 93. | unforgiving | not tolerant of mistakes |
| 94. | unkind | not kind or considerate |
| 95. | unpleasant | not enjoyable or agreeable |
| 96. | unsparing | not holding back criticism |
| 97. | unsympathetic | showing little understanding |
| 98. | vicious | deliberately cruel or violent |
| 99. | violent | using extreme force |
| 100. | wounding | deeply hurtful |
