hurtfulness
Tendency to wound
Hurtfulness is the quality of causing emotional pain or distress.
The word describes both the capacity to wound and the degree to which something wounds: the hurtfulness of his remarks, She didn't realize the hurtfulness of what she'd said.
It emphasizes the effect on the recipient rather than the intent of the speaker.
Bodily or emotional distress
- stingSharp wound from insect
- woundCoiled, or an injury
- injuryPhysical or psychological harm
- bruiseDiscolored tissue injury
soreness · harm · damage · blow · strike · infliction · wounding · scarring
Intent to cause harm
- viciousnessExtreme cruelty or spite
- sadismPleasure from inflicting pain
- brutalitySavage, merciless behavior
- malevolenceActive ill will
spite · meanness · nastiness · callousness · heartlessness · mercilessness · inhumanity · ruthlessness
Deep emotional distress
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- rejectionDenial of acceptance
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
sorrow · trauma · distress · wounded · loneliness · alienation · disappointment · devastation
Offensive remark or action
- slurInsulting group label
- tauntInsulting provocation
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
- derisionContemptuous mockery
belittlement · disparagement · denigration · contempt · scorn · ridicule · sneer · jibe
Lack of careful consideration
- tactlessnessAbsence of social sensitivity
- inconsiderationDisregard for others' feelings
- carelessnessInattention causing mistakes
- obliviousnessLack of awareness
disregard · neglect · indifference · coldness · detachment · aloofness · dismissiveness · bluntness
pain
Bodily or emotional distress
bruise · soreness · harm · damage · blow · strike · infliction · wounding · scarring · laceration
malice
Intent to cause harm
- viciousnessExtreme cruelty or spite
- sadismPleasure from inflicting pain
- brutalitySavage, merciless behavior
malevolence · spite · meanness · nastiness · callousness · heartlessness · mercilessness · inhumanity · ruthlessness · savagery
heartache
Deep emotional distress
grief · sorrow · trauma · distress · wounded · loneliness · alienation · disappointment · devastation · despair
insult
Offensive remark or action
derision · belittlement · disparagement · denigration · contempt · scorn · ridicule · sneer · jibe · barb
thoughtlessness
Lack of careful consideration
- tactlessnessAbsence of social sensitivity
- inconsiderationDisregard for others' feelings
- carelessnessInattention causing mistakes
obliviousness · disregard · neglect · indifference · coldness · detachment · aloofness · dismissiveness · bluntness · brusqueness
hurtfulnesskindness
Considerate, caring disposition
gentleness · tenderness · compassion · helpfulness · nurturing
hurtfulnessbenevolence
Disposition toward doing good
harmlessness · beneficence · goodness · lovingness · graciousness