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cruelness

cruelness

1 4.5
Wanting to hurt or make others suffer
  • noun
  • /ˈkruːəl.nəs/
translation icon : crueldad
  • The cruelness of the bully shocked everyone in the school.

And The thing is with Mike Johnson, I often think when I hear him lie non-stop, the cruelness, I think, Do you pray to your God with that lying mouth?

Examples

  • Many people were affected by the cruelness displayed during the war.

  • And The thing is with Mike Johnson, I often think when I hear him lie non-stop, the cruelness, I think, Do you pray to your God with that lying mouth?

  • The animal shelter works to rescue pets from the cruelness of neglect.

Synonyms

brutality
vscruelness
  • Offensive
187 5.6

Very cruel and violent actions that hurt people

focuses on the general willingness to cause pain, not only violence
cruelty
vscruelness
  • NSFW
129 3.2

Actions that hurt people or animals on purpose

expresses the same inclination to cause harm rather than specific acts
malice
vscruelness
54 6.3

A wish to hurt someone or make them suffer

is the broader quality of cruelty rather than only harmful intent
barbarism
vscruelness
13 8.0

A very cruel act that hurts or kills many people

is broader, meaning the tendency to cause suffering in general
inhumanity
vscruelness
  • NSFW
12 6.6

Very cruel actions that show no care for other people

focuses on the inclination to hurt rather than showing dehumanizing acts
viciousness
vscruelness
10 6.3

Being very cruel and violent toward other people or animals

is the basic disposition to cause suffering without the violent focus
ruthlessness
vscruelness
9 7.3

To show no pity or kindness to reach a goal

is the general hurtful inclination not always tied to specific aims
meanness
vscruelness
9 5.4

Being unkind on purpose to other people

is the general drive to cause suffering rather than only minor unkind acts
malevolence
vscruelness
8 8.8

A feeling of wanting to harm other people

is the active readiness to cause pain, not only hostile wishes
barbarity
vscruelness
6 8.4

Very cruel and violent behavior that hurts people

covers the same cruelty but not necessarily extreme brutality
maliciousness
vscruelness
2 7.5

A wish to hurt or make other people suffer

is the general inclination to cause suffering rather than malice alone
mercilessness
vscruelness
1 8.4

A complete lack of pity or kindness toward others

is the broader tendency to cause suffering rather than absence of pity
beastliness
vscruelness
1 8.7

Cruel or very mean behavior towards other people

is the broader inclination to harm, not only being unpleasant
spitefulness
vscruelness
1 7.4

A wish to hurt, upset, or annoy other people

is the broader tendency to cause suffering beyond petty actions
barbarousness
vscruelness
9.5

A very cruel way of behaving that shows no kindness

denotes the general inclination to hurt rather than extreme savagery
sadistic tendency
vscruelness
  • Offensive
9.0

A wish to hurt other people because it gives pleasure

is about wanting to cause pain, not necessarily enjoying that pain
pitilessness
vscruelness
8.3

A lack of pity or mercy for other people

is the willingness to cause harm rather than only absence of pity
inhumaneness
vscruelness
  • NSFW
8.8

Lack of pity or care for other people

is the active desire to cause pain rather than the general lack of care
inhumanism
vscruelness
  • NSFW
9.8

Very cruel treatment that ignores people's feelings and rights

captures the same harmful impulse but not the dehumanizing focus
brutishness
vscruelness
  • Offensive
7.8

Being cruel and showing little kindness

is the deliberate wish to cause suffering rather than crude behaviour
meanspiritedness
vscruelness
  • Offensive
7.9

Being unkind and cruel to other people on purpose

is the larger inclination to inflict real pain rather than small meanness

Antonyms

297 1.0

Friendly and generous actions that help or comfort other people

How Cruel

savagery
  • NSFW
20 7.4
brutality
  • Offensive
187 5.6
cruelness
1 4.5
unkindness
3 4.1

Surface Forms

cruelness singular
cruelnesses plural

Morphology

cruelness = cruel (transparent) = cruel + ness

Formed regularly from the adjective 'cruel' with the nominalizing suffix '-ness', so the meaning is directly derivable.

Etymology

Cruelness comes from the word cruel, which is related to crude and originally meant 'raw' or 'harsh'. So cruelness is the quality of being harsh or wanting 'to hurt' others.