When hearing French people using the word chiant (comes from chier=to shit) it shows to me the sequel of decades of education destruction in the country, as they are hundred better or more diverse words to express the emotion behind "chiant".
Something like pénible for example doesn't feel quite equal, more something I'd use to describe someone. Bassinant would not quite feel as heavy as well. Barber/barbe may be.
Overall chiant/faire chier is just much more common and conveys the meaning quite well and accurately when it comes to work.