Return to the home page.

Expand/collapse menu.

Visit Our Sites

Unabridged Dictionary

Learner's Dictionary

Word Central for Kids

Collegiate Dictionary

Expand/collapse menu.

Premium Services

Unabridged Dictionary

Collegiate Dictionary

Encyclopedia Britannica

Institutional Subscriptions

Expand/collapse menu.

Expand/collapse menu.

Word of the Day

Subscriber Help

Expand/collapse menu.

More Word Games

Daily Crosswords

Expand/collapse menu.

Open Dictionary

Alphabetical Browse

Browse Categories

Submit an Entry

Expand/collapse menu.

Spelling Bee Hive

Hive Headquarters

Spelling Champion

Spelling Reform

Expand/collapse menu.

Word for the Wise

Today's Broadcast

Expand/collapse menu.

Books and CD-Roms

Online Services

Palm and Pocket PC

Expand/collapse menu.

Looking Up a Word

Citing the Dictionary

Audio Pronunciations

Word Games Help

Expand/collapse menu.

Merriam-Webster FAQ

Advertising Info

Copyright Notice

Also Visit:
Unabridged

Visual
ESL:
Learner's
for Kids:
Spell It!
Word Central

cruel

Browse the Dictionary:: A; B; C; D; E; F; G; H; I; J; K; L; M; N; O; P; Q; R; S; T; U; V; W; X; Y; Z; #

cruel

Main Entry:: cru·el
Pronunciation:: \ˈkrü(-ə)l\
Function:: adjective
Inflected Form(s):: cru·el·er or cru·el·ler; cru·el·est or cru·el·lest
Etymology:: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin crudelis, from crudus
Date:: 14th century

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>

synonyms see fierce

— cru·el·ly

Listen to the pronunciation of cruelly

\ˈkrü-(ə-)lē\ adverb

— cru·el·ness noun

Learn more about "cruel" and related topics at Britannica.com

See a map of "cruel" in the Visual Thesaurus

Find Jobs in Your City

Pronunciation Symbols