cruel

cru·el

adjective \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

See Synonym Discussion at fierce

Rhymes with CRUEL

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