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CRUEL Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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View synonyms for cruel

cruel

[ kroo-uhl ]

adjective

crueler, cruelest.
  1. willfully or knowingly causing pain or distress to others.

    Synonyms: relentless, merciless, ferocious, bloodthirsty

    Antonyms: kind

  2. enjoying the pain or distress of others:

    the cruel spectators of the gladiatorial contests.

    Antonyms: compassionate, sympathetic

  3. causing or marked by great pain or distress:

    a cruel remark;

    a cruel affliction.

  4. rigid; stern; strict; unrelentingly severe.


cruel

/ ˈkruːəl /

adjective

  1. causing or inflicting pain without pity

    a cruel teacher

  2. causing pain or suffering

    a cruel accident

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈcruelness, noun
  • ˈcruelly, adverb
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Other Words From

  • cruel·ly adverb
  • cruel·ness noun
  • un·cruel adjective
  • un·cruel·ly adverb
  • un·cruel·ness noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of cruel1

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin crūdēlis, equivalent to crūd(us) ( crude ) + -ēlis, adjective suffix
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Word History and Origins

Origin of cruel1

C13: from Old French, from Latin crūdēlis, from crūdus raw, bloody
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Synonym Study

Cruel, pitiless, ruthless, brutal, savage imply readiness to cause pain to others. Cruel implies willingness to cause pain, and indifference to suffering: a cruel stepfather. Pitiless adds the idea of refusal to show compassion: pitiless to captives. Ruthless implies cruelty and unscrupulousness, letting nothing stand in one's way: ruthless greed. Brutal implies cruelty that takes the form of physical violence: a brutal master. Savage suggests fierceness and brutality: savage battles.
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Example Sentences

"We know this is cruel, and totally unnecessary. We know there are alternatives to the tag," her supporters said in a statement.

From BBC

Hassan is wanted in the US for "engaging in conspiracy to commit cruel and inhuman treatment of civilian detainees, including US citizens".

From BBC

Human rights experts have long condemned such treatment as cruel and inhuman, saying it exacerbates prisoners' risk of developing a serious mental illness.

From BBC

There may be two sides to Pelicot's behaviour, but there is - to stick with Dr Layet's computing metaphor - only one operating system that controls his cruel, private urges and his public demeanour.

From BBC

"How can they be so cruel against our own people? We are meant to protect civilians, but now we're killing people. It's no longer an army, it's a force that terrorises."

From BBC

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