Similes are fun figures of speech that compare two different things using the words like or as. People use them to make their writing and speaking much more descriptive and exciting to read. In this article, you are going to learn sixty wonderful similes that describe someone harsh, cruel, or deeply unpleasant.
In this lesson, we’ll look at similes for bastard that mean mean-spirited, ruthless, and harsh. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Similes for Bastard
1. As cold as ice
Meaning: This means someone who treats others with no emotional warmth or kindness.
For Example: He walked past his crying classmate with a stare that was as cold as ice. / Her unfeeling response to his trouble was as cold as ice.
Other Ways to Say: Heartless manner / Icy soul
2. Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing
Description: This describes someone who acts friendly on the outside but is mean and cruel on the inside.
For Example: He smiled to your face and then ruined your project like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. / Beware of people who act sweet like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Other Ways to Say: Fake friend / Hidden enemy
3. As venomous as a snake
Meaning: This means someone whose words and actions are toxic and meant to hurt you.
For Example: His cruel gossip about his classmates was as venomous as a snake. / You should stay away from people whose talk is as venomous as a snake.
Other Ways to Say: Toxic person / Poisonous words
4. Like a thorn in your side
Description: This describes an obnoxious person who causes constant trouble and misery.
For Example: He teased everyone during recess like a thorn in your side. / His constant bullying made him feel like a thorn in your side.
Other Ways to Say: Constant annoyance / Pestering pest
5. As hard as flint
Meaning: This means someone who has no sympathy, mercy, or forgiveness for anyone.
For Example: When you apologize to him, his heart remains as hard as flint. / She refused to give her classmate a second chance, acting as hard as flint.
Other Ways to Say: Unforgiving heart / Stern soul
6. Like a vulture circling prey
Description: This describes someone who waits eagerly to take advantage of your mistakes.
For Example: He hovered around the struggling group project like a vulture circling prey. / Watch out for kids who wait for you to fail like a vulture circling prey.
Other Ways to Say: Waiting predator / Opportunistic user
7. As bitter as gall
Meaning: This means a person filled with deep anger, resentment, and a sour attitude.
For Example: His attitude after losing the game was as bitter as gall. / She stayed mad at her peers for weeks, acting as bitter as gall.
Other Ways to Say: Deeply sour / Grumpy soul
8. Like a stormy black cloud
Description: This describes a miserable, angry person who ruins everyone’s good mood.
For Example: He walked into the clubhouse carrying a temper like a stormy black cloud. / Her nasty complaints hung over the room like a stormy black cloud.
Other Ways to Say: Gloomy rage / Angry shadow
9. As sharp as a razor tongue
Meaning: This means someone who cuts you down with vicious insults and mean remarks.
For Example: His whispers in the hallway were as sharp as a razor tongue. / Watch out for bullies with a razor tongue who love to cause pain.
Other Ways to Say: Insulting talk / Cutting speech
10. Like a leech on your arm
Description: This describes a selfish person who uses you for your things and never gives back.
For Example: He only borrows your money and never pays it back, sticking around like a leech on your arm. / She takes your snacks every day like a leech on your arm.
Other Ways to Say: Sticky user / Greedy taker
11. As cruel as a winter storm
Meaning: This means showing fierce, damaging behavior toward anyone who crosses you.
For Example: His treatment of the younger kids on the playground was as cruel as a winter storm. / The harsh boss was as cruel as a winter storm.
Other Ways to Say: Unkind severity / Harsh behavior
12. Like a fox in the henhouse
Description: This describes a sneaky person who tricks you and steals your trust.
For Example: We trusted him with the club supplies, but he took them like a fox in the henhouse. / Letting him handle the money was like letting a fox in the henhouse.
Other Ways to Say: Sneaky intruder / Trust breaker
13. As false as counterfeit money
Meaning: This means someone whose loyalty and friendship are entirely fake.
For Example: His promises to help you out turned out to be as false as counterfeit money. / Do not trust someone whose character is as false as counterfeit money.
Other Ways to Say: Completely fake / Untrue soul
14. Like a raging bull
Description: This describes an aggressive, angry person charging forward with zero care.
For Example: He shoved past the kids in the hallway like a raging bull. / His temper made him crash through the room like a raging bull.
Other Ways to Say: Aggressive charge / Wild fury
15. As shallow as a puddle
Meaning: This means someone who lacks any real empathy, depth, or loyalty.
For Example: Their friendship broke apart because his care for others was as shallow as a puddle. / You cannot count on deep support from someone as shallow as a puddle.
Other Ways to Say: Lacking depth / Fickle heart
16. Like a storm blowing through a camp
Description: This describes an obnoxious person who arrives and ruins all peace.
For Example: He stormed into the room and yelled at everyone like a storm blowing through a camp. / His bad attitude wrecked the party like a storm blowing through a camp.
Other Ways to Say: Ruined peace / Disruptive force
17. As sour as vinegar
Meaning: This means a grumpy, unpleasant person who always complains and acts mean.
For Example: The grumpy neighbor acted as sour as vinegar when kids walked by. / Her mood turned as sour as vinegar when she did not get her way.
Other Ways to Say: Grumpy grouch / Bitter mood
18. Like a two-faced coin
Description: This describes someone who acts nice to your face and ruins your reputation behind your back.
For Example: You never know what he really thinks because he is like a two-faced coin. / Her gossiping habits proved she was like a two-faced coin.
Other Ways to Say: Backstabber / Two sides
19. As dry as old bones
Meaning: This means an unfeeling, heartless person who offers zero comfort.
For Example: When I told him I was upset, his response was as dry as old bones. / His empathy for others is as dry as old bones.
Other Ways to Say: Uncaring heart / Cold comfort
20. Like a shadow stealing your light
Description: This describes a jealous bully who tries to make you look bad so they look better.
For Example: He tried to take credit for your artwork like a shadow stealing your light. / Beware of peers acting like a shadow stealing your light.
Other Ways to Say: Credit thief / Jealous rival
21. As heavy as lead on your mind
Meaning: This means worrying about a toxic, mean person all day long.
For Example: Dealing with his constant fighting felt as heavy as lead on your mind. / His mean texting left a feeling as heavy as lead on your mind.
Other Ways to Say: Mental weight / Stressful worry
22. Like a broken clock
Description: This describes an unreliable, selfish person who is never there when you need them.
For Example: Asking him to help you out works about as well as a broken clock. / His promises of support are as reliable as a broken clock.
Other Ways to Say: Useless help / Never on time
23. As wild as a runaway train
Meaning: This means a reckless, selfish person who drags others into trouble.
For Example: Following his rule-breaking ideas is like riding a runaway train. / He acts as wild as a runaway train and causes trouble at school.
Other Ways to Say: Reckless pal / Out of control
24. Like a wolf howling at the moon
Description: This describes a loud, dramatic person who loves to complain and cause a scene.
For Example: Whenever things do not go his way, he makes a big fuss like a wolf howling at the moon. / She complained about the seating chart like a wolf howling at the moon.
Other Ways to Say: Loud complainer / Dramatic fuss
25. As sharp as glass shards
Meaning: This means someone whose insults cut you deeply and leave bad memories.
For Example: His cruel remarks about her project were as sharp as glass shards. / Words spoken by an angry rival can be as sharp as glass shards.
Other Ways to Say: Cutting insult / Jagged words
26. Like a ghost that haunts you
Description: This describes an annoying former associate who keeps bothering you after a fallout.
For Example: Even after stopping our contact, he kept showing up like a ghost that haunts you. / His silly drama lingered around like a ghost that haunts you.
Other Ways to Say: Bothering ghost / Lingering pest
27. As light as a feather when responsibilities call
Meaning: This means someone who disappears instantly when there is actual work to do.
For Example: When it was time to clean up, he became as light as a feather and vanished. / She promised to help pack boxes, but her reliability was as light as a feather.
Other Ways to Say: Quick runner / Vanishing helper
28. Like a weed in a garden
Description: This describes a toxic person who crowds out all the good relationships around you.
For Example: That negative bully grew into our friend group like a weed in a garden. / Pulling toxic people out of your life is like clearing weeds in a garden.
Other Ways to Say: Toxic invader / Unwanted weed
29. As bitter as wormwood
Meaning: This means someone whose unkind attitude leaves a terrible feeling in your heart.
For Example: The harsh betrayal by her peer tasted as bitter as wormwood. / His nasty attitude left the group feeling as bitter as wormwood.
Other Ways to Say: Deep betrayal / Harsh feeling
30. Like a rolling stone with no roots
Description: This describes an uncommitted person who drops people easily and moves on.
For Example: He changes groups every week like a rolling stone with no roots. / You cannot build a bond with someone who moves like a rolling stone with no roots.
Other Ways to Say: Fickle person / Unattached drifter
31. As blind as a mole to other people’s feelings
Meaning: This means a selfish person who never notices how much they hurt you.
For Example: He made mean jokes without caring, as blind as a mole to other people’s feelings. / She ignored her crying peer, acting as blind as a mole to other people’s feelings.
Other Ways to Say: Clueless person / Selfish blind spot
32. Like a sinking anchor in the mud
Description: This describes a toxic individual who pulls you down into bad behavior.
For Example: Hanging out with him felt like a sinking anchor in the mud for my grades. / His bad habits acted like a sinking anchor in the mud.
Other Ways to Say: Dragging down / Muddy anchor
33. As cold as winter frost
Meaning: This means someone who shuts you out and gives you the silent treatment.
For Example: When he got mad, his stare became as cold as winter frost. / His greeting in the hallway was as cold as winter frost.
Other Ways to Say: Icy glare / Frozen greeting
34. Like a heavy storm cloud over the playground
Description: This describes a gloomy, pessimistic person who ruins everyone’s good time.
For Example: He walked over to our game carrying a mood like a heavy storm cloud over the playground. / Her complaints hung over the lunch table like a heavy storm cloud over the playground.
Other Ways to Say: Gloomy mood / Rainmaker
35. As stubborn as a mule in an argument
Meaning: This means a selfish person who refuses to listen or admit when they are wrong.
For Example: Even when he broke the toy, he stayed as stubborn as a mule in an argument. / She refused to say sorry, acting as stubborn as a mule in an argument.
Other Ways to Say: Refusing apology / Won’t admit fault
36. Like a crumbling wall
Description: This describes an unstable bond that falls apart at the slightest pressure.
For Example: Their argument over a video game made their bond crack like a crumbling wall. / That weak association stood like a crumbling wall during hard times.
Other Ways to Say: Weak bond / Fragile friendship
37. As sharp as a brier
Meaning: This means someone who hurts your feelings with sharp, biting remarks.
For Example: Her unkind comments during lunch were as sharp as a brier. / You have to watch what you say around him because his tongue is as sharp as a brier.
Other Ways to Say: Hurtful remarks / Cutting words
38. Like a chameleon changing colors
Description: This describes a fake person who changes how they act depending on who is watching.
For Example: He acts nice around teachers but mean to kids, moving like a chameleon changing colors. / She switches groups instantly like a chameleon changing colors.
Other Ways to Say: Fake switcher / Changing face
39. As hollow as an empty drum
Meaning: This means someone who makes big promises of loyalty but never follows through.
For Example: His promise to defend you in an argument was as hollow as an empty drum. / Her grand speeches about loyalty sounded as hollow as an empty drum.
Other Ways to Say: Empty promises / No substance
40. Like a moth drawn to dangerous fire
Description: This describes a reckless individual who constantly leads others into risky drama.
For Example: Following his rule-breaking plans pulled us in like a moth drawn to dangerous fire. / She chased school gossip like a moth drawn to dangerous fire.
Other Ways to Say: Drama chaser / Risk seeker
41. As slick as oil on water
Meaning: This means a sneaky person who slides away from blame after causing a fight.
For Example: He started the rumor and then acted innocent, as slick as oil on water. / She escaped getting in trouble by acting as slick as oil on water.
Other Ways to Say: Sneaky escape / Blame dodger
42. Like an uninvited guest at dinner
Description: This describes a bossy person who pushes into your games and ruins the fun.
For Example: He forced his way into our secret club meetings like an uninvited guest at dinner. / She interrupted our conversation like an uninvited guest at dinner.
Other Ways to Say: Pushing in / Rude interloper
43. As prickly as a cactus
Meaning: This means an unfriendly, defensive person who snaps at you when you try to talk.
For Example: When I asked how he was doing, he reacted as prickly as a cactus. / Her morning mood made her as prickly as a cactus.
Other Ways to Say: Defensive mood / Snapping back
44. Like a stormy sea with no shore
Description: This describes a chaotic situation full of endless drama and fighting.
For Example: Being in that dramatic group felt like sailing a stormy sea with no shore. / Their constant arguments were like a stormy sea with no shore.
Other Ways to Say: Endless drama / Rough waters
45. As fragile as an eggshell promise
Meaning: This means a weak agreement with a bad person that shatters instantly.
For Example: His vow to keep your secret was as fragile as an eggshell promise. / Their commitment to the group project was as fragile as an eggshell promise.
Other Ways to Say: Weak vow / Easily broken word
46. Like a ticking time bomb of drama
Description: This describes a volatile individual who is ready to explode into a fight over nothing.
For Example: He started shouting over a small game piece like a ticking time bomb of drama. / Her temper felt like a ticking time bomb of drama all week.
Other Ways to Say: Volatile temper / Ready to blow
47. As loud as a clanging cymbal
Meaning: This means an obnoxious person who loves to brag and draw negative attention.
For Example: He boasted about his video game scores as loud as a clanging cymbal. / Her loud complaining in the library was as loud as a clanging cymbal.
Other Ways to Say: Obnoxious braggart / Noisy showoff
48. Like a rusty lock on a door
Description: This describes a relationship that has stopped working and will not open up anymore.
For Example: Trying to fix our broken trust felt like forcing a rusty lock on a door. / Their closed-off communication felt like a rusty lock on a door.
Other Ways to Say: Stuck friendship / Broken trust
49. As dark as a thunderstorm cloud
Meaning: This means a brooding, mean-spirited person who brings bad energy to the group.
For Example: His angry scowl made the lunch table look as dark as a thunderstorm cloud. / She brought bad vibes into the clubhouse as dark as a thunderstorm cloud.
Other Ways to Say: Bad vibes / Angry mood
50. Like a broken record of complaints
Description: This describes an annoying person who never stops whining about everything.
For Example: He griped about the homework assignment like a broken record of complaints. / Her constant whining sounded like a broken record of complaints.
Other Ways to Say: Whining repeat / Endless griping
51. As fickle as the wind
Meaning: This means an unreliable person who changes who they like every single day.
For Example: One day she likes you and the next she ignores you, as fickle as the wind. / His loyalties are as fickle as the wind.
Other Ways to Say: Changing mind / Unsteady pal
52. Like a thorn bush blocking the path
Description: This describes a difficult person who makes it hard for you to enjoy your school day.
For Example: Dealing with his daily teasing felt like walking past a thorn bush blocking the path. / Her bullying stood like a thorn bush blocking the path to a fun recess.
Other Ways to Say: Difficult obstacle / Roadblock peer
53. As bitter as lemon peel
Meaning: This means an unpleasant, nasty personality that leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
For Example: His sarcastic jokes tasted as bitter as lemon peel. / Her nasty attitude left the whole group feeling as bitter as lemon peel.
Other Ways to Say: Nasty personality / Sour taste
54. Like a heavy fog obscuring the truth
Description: This describes a manipulative person who spreads lies to confuse everyone.
For Example: His false stories about the club funds spread like a heavy fog obscuring the truth. / Her confusing gossip acted like a heavy fog obscuring the truth.
Other Ways to Say: Confusing lies / Hiding facts
55. As dry as dust
Meaning: This means someone who is boring, uncaring, and completely lifeless in company.
For Example: Conversations with him about your feelings are as dry as dust. / Her lack of care for your problems left the interaction as dry as dust.
Other Ways to Say: Lifeless pal / Boring company
56. Like a visitor who overstays their welcome
Description: This describes an obnoxious person who hangs around even when nobody wants them there.
For Example: He ignored all the hints to leave our clubhouse like a visitor who overstays their welcome. / She kept intruding on our private conversations like a visitor who overstays their welcome.
Other Ways to Say: Intruding guest / Unwanted hanger
57. As shallow as a puddle
Meaning: This means someone who has no real depth or care for others.
For Example: Their association broke apart over a tiny argument because it was as shallow as a puddle. / You cannot count on deep support from someone as shallow as a puddle.
Other Ways to Say: Lacking depth / Fickle person
58. Like a shadow in a cave
Description: This describes a mysterious, sneaky person you can never truly figure out.
For Example: He hides his true intentions from his peers like a shadow in a cave. / You can never tell what she is plotting because she acts like a shadow in a cave.
Other Ways to Say: Mysterious loner / Sneaky hideout
59. As heavy as an anchor
Meaning: This means a negative person who drags down your mood and happiness.
For Example: Being around his constant complaining felt as heavy as an anchor. / Her gloomy attitude weighed on the group as heavy as an anchor.
Other Ways to Say: Mood dragger / Heavy burden
60. Like a broken promise
Description: This describes a person who constantly lets you down and breaks their word.
For Example: Relying on him for the group project felt like a broken promise. / His character turned out to be like a broken promise.
Other Ways to Say: Letdown person / Unreliable friend
Exercise to Practice
- He walked past his crying classmate with a stare that was ________.
- He smiled to your face and then ruined your project like ________.
- His cruel gossip about his classmates was ________.
- He teased everyone during recess like ________.
- When you apologize to him, his heart remains ________.
- He hovered around the struggling group project like ________.
- His attitude after losing the game was ________.
- He walked into the clubhouse carrying a temper like ________.
- His whispers in the hallway were ________.
- He only borrows your money and never pays it back, sticking around ________.
- His treatment of the younger kids on the playground was ________.
- We trusted him with the club supplies, but he took them like ________.
- His promises to help you out turned out to be ________.
- He shoved past the kids in the hallway like ________.
- Their friendship broke apart because his care for others was ________.
Answer Key
- as cold as ice
- a wolf in sheep’s clothing
- as venomous as a snake
- a thorn in your side
- as hard as flint
- a vulture circling prey
- as bitter as gall
- a stormy black cloud
- as sharp as a razor tongue
- a leech on your arm
- as cruel as a winter storm
- a fox in the henhouse
- as false as counterfeit money
- a raging bull
- as shallow as a puddle
Conclusion
Learning these fun similes helps you describe harsh or unpleasant people in much more creative ways. Instead of using plain words, you can paint a vivid picture in your reader’s mind.
Try using some of these expressions the next time you talk about dealing with difficult individuals or tell a story with your classmates. You will sound like a true vocabulary expert and make your writing much more fun to read!
