Cruel
Cruel adjective - Having or showing the desire to inflict severe pain and suffering on others.
Distressing and cruel are semantically related. in harsh topic. In some cases you can use "Distressing" instead an adjective "Cruel".
Distressing
Distressing adjective - Causing worry or anxiety.
Cruel and distressing are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Cruel" instead an adjective "Distressing".
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
Cite this Source
Distressing and Cruel. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 07, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/cruel/distressing
Cruel & Distressing. N.p., 2016. Web. 07 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/cruel/distressing>.
Distressing or Cruel. 2016. Accessed August 07, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/cruel/distressing.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "cruel" and "distressing" have occurred on timeline