cruel

cru·el

adj \ˈkrü(-ə)l\

cru·el·er or cru·el·lercru·el·est or cru·el·lest

Definition of CRUEL

1

: disposed to inflict pain or suffering : devoid of humane feelings <a cruel tyrant>

2

a : causing or conducive to injury, grief, or pain <a cruel joke> b : unrelieved by leniency <cruel punishment>

— cru·el·ly \ˈkrü-(ə-)lē\ adverb

— cru·el·ness noun

Examples of CRUEL

1. a cruel twist of fate
2. Hunger is a cruel fact of nature.

Origin of CRUEL

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin crudelis, from crudus

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CRUEL

Synonyms: atrocious, barbaric, barbarous, brutal, brute, butcherly, fiendish, heartless, inhuman, inhumane, sadistic, savage, truculent, vicious, wanton, red in tooth and claw

Antonyms: benign, benignant, compassionate, good-hearted, humane, kind, kindhearted, sympathetic, tenderhearted

Related Words: hard-hearted, ironhearted, merciless, pitiless, ruthless, stonyhearted, unfeeling; fell, ferocious, grim; bloodthirsty, cutthroat, murderous, sanguinary, sanguine; catty, despiteful, hateful, malevolent, malicious, malign, malignant, mean, nasty, spiteful, vindictive; draconian, draconic, hardhanded, harsh, heavy-handed, oppressive

Near Antonyms: tender, warm, warmhearted; charitable, clement, lenient, merciful, pitying; pacific, peaceable, peaceful

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See Synonym Discussion at fierce

Rhymes with CRUEL

crewel, dual, duel, fuel, gruel, jewel, newel