cruel
522
2.7
- adjective
- /ˈkruːəl/
:
cruel
- She refused to be cruel to the stray dog, choosing instead to help it.
- a cruel punishment
- cruel and unusual
- in a cruel way
That's the dad we were handed by a cruel, arbitrary God.
- That's the dad we were handed by a cruel, arbitrary God.
- And when I'm around people who are cruel, I become unwell.
- Are we good or bad, kind or cruel, caring or callous?
- And I just want to point out how cruel Maggie is one more time.
- And he says they have waged A cruel assault on essential rights.
- I said, I don't mean to sound cruel, but your life is over.
- Evil is much more vivid, gratuitous, cruel, all-encompassing.
- I think she's every bit as psycho and cruel as he is.
- And let's stop being idiots and cruel in our supposed compassion.
- What a fun, intense and cruel person she is.
- They're just, it's a, it's such a cruel thing to do to a person.
- Even if they're just like cruel to each other, it makes more sense.
- A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.
Examples
-
My parents were cruel.
-
They they used cruel punishments and threats.
-
I cannot believe such a cruel order will actually be carried out.
Academic text (2008) -
I think that nature is a very cruel mistress to women.
-
Life can be and is cruel and unfair at times.
-
Instead, what they live in, he says, is a cruel separation and suffering.
-
How could you be so selfish and cruel after all I've done to make you happy?
-
What motivates a people to attack another in such a cruel and inhumane way?
Academic text (1999) -
It was truly cruel of him to mock her during such a difficult time.
-
Many animals suffer in cruel conditions in zoos and circuses.
Synonyms
699
2.2
Unkind and cruel toward other people
289
2.8
Unkind and too strict in what someone says or does to others
229
4.8
Very cruel and violent, causing pain or suffering
222
5.2
Deliberately cruel and likely to hurt someone
152
4.9
Not feeling sorry for others and hurting them on purpose
54
6.1
Showing no pity and acting cruel on purpose
44
1.0
Not friendly or caring to other people
41
7.3
Not caring about other people's feelings or pain
37
5.9
Very cruel and causing pain to people or animals
33
5.3
Showing no pity and treating people in a cruel way
30
6.0
Very cruel and not feeling pity
27
4.5
Very fierce and violent and often cruel
7
7.0
Not showing any pity or kindness
6
7.5
Not feeling sorry and continuing without stopping when hurting others
3
8.5
Being very cruel and causing great pain
2
7.1
Being very cruel and not kind to others
2
7.9
Very harsh and not forgiving when criticizing or acting
1
8.9
Acting in a harsh way that ignores other people's feelings
1
7.2
Not feeling or showing pity for other people
1
7.4
Shows no sympathy for people who suffer
Cruel and likely to cause great harm
Unkind and petty in a way that hurts other people
Antonyms
Idioms
Compounds
- Formal
14
5.9
Punishment that is very cruel or too harsh for the crime and not allowed by law
- Indian
A strong climbing plant with fragrant white or pink flowers that trap moths overnight
The right not to suffer torture or very harsh treatment by the government
How Cruel
Surface Forms
Etymology
Cruel comes from the old Latin word crudus, meaning 'raw' or 'bloody', and crudelis meant a person who caused pain. So, like the English word crude which feels rough and raw, cruel means willing to cause pain or not show kindness.